(a) This section does not apply to the following:
- (1) A parent, guardian, or custodian of a child.
- (2) A person who acts with the permission of a child's parent, guardian, or custodian.
- (3) A person to whom a child makes a report of abuse or neglect.
- (4) A person to whom a child reports medical symptoms that relate to or may relate to sexual activity.
- (b) As used in this section, "sexual activity" means sexual intercourse, other sexual conduct (as defined in IC 35-31.5-2-221.5 ), or the fondling or touching of the buttocks, genitals, or female breasts.
(c) A person at least eighteen (18) years of age who knowingly or intentionally communicates with an individual whom the person believes to be a child less than fourteen (14) years of age concerning sexual activity with the intent to gratify the sexual desires of the person or the individual commits inappropriate communication with a child, a Class B misdemeanor. However, the offense is:
- (1) a Class A misdemeanor if the person commits the offense by using a computer network (as defined in IC 35-43-2-3 (a); and
- (2) a Level 6 felony if the person has a prior unrelated conviction for a sex offense (as defined in IC 11-8-8-5.2 ).
As added by P.L.119-2008, SEC.19. Amended by P.L.247-2013, SEC.9; P.L.158-2013, SEC.449; P.L.168-2014, SEC.74.