It is a crime in Indiana to threaten someone with physical injury, harm to property, or other types of injury.
This law many apply in a wide variety of situations. But you cannot force someone to do something against their will under threat of committing a crime.
Indiana doesn’t have specific assault laws or assault and battery statues, only battery offenses for actually physically touching or injuring a person. But these laws are absolutely enforced.
However, an intimidation charge can be trickier to prove, since there is usually no physical evidence. It often comes down to the testimony of the participates, or possibly witnesses to the event.
Indiana Intimidation Laws & Penalties
Intimidation is a Class A Misdemeanor offense under most common circumstances. A Class A Misdeameanor carries a maximum penalty of up to 1 year in jail.
However, if the threats are of a serious nature, and the coercion is under the the threat of a felony retaliation, the Intimidation charge is a Class D Felony. A Class D Felony has a maximum sentence of 3 years in prison and $10,000 in fines.
A charge of threatening with a deadly weapon makes the offense a Class C Felony, which brings the potential penalty up to 8 years in prison.
A deadly weapon could be anything from a firearm, gun, knife, blunt instrument, a car or vehicle, or other object or device that could cause deadly harm.
See Indiana Intimidation Laws IC 35-45-2
Related charges may include harassment or stalking, depending on the facts of the case, and your relationship with the alleged victim.
For more information in a criminal charge of Intimidation in Indiana, please contact our attorneys for a free case evaluation of the charges against you.