Indiana Code

Ind. Code § 35-45-2-1 (2026)

Intimidation

✓ current as of May 2026
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     Sec. 1. (a) A person who communicates a threat with the intent:

(1) that another person engage in conduct against the other person's will;

(2) that another person be placed in fear of retaliation for a prior lawful act;

(3) of:

(A) causing:

(i) a dwelling, a building, or other structure; or

(ii) a vehicle;

to be evacuated; or

(B) interfering with the occupancy of:

(i) a dwelling, building, or other structure; or

(ii) a vehicle; or

(4) that another person be placed in fear that the threat will be carried out, if the threat is a threat described in:

(A) subsection (c)(1) through (c)(5); or

(B) subsection (c)(7) through (c)(8);

commits intimidation, a Class A misdemeanor.

     (b) However, the offense is a:

(1) Level 6 felony if:

(A) the threat is to commit a forcible felony;

(B) the subject of the threat or the person to whom the threat is communicated is a witness (or the spouse or child of a witness) in any pending criminal proceeding against the person making the threat;

(C) the threat is communicated because of the occupation, profession, employment status, or ownership status of a person or the threat relates to or is made in connection with the occupation, profession, employment status, or ownership status of a person;

(D) the person has a prior unrelated conviction for an offense under this section concerning the same victim; or

(E) the threat is communicated using property, including electronic equipment or systems, of a school corporation or other governmental entity; and

(2) Level 5 felony if:

(A) while committing it, the person draws or uses a deadly weapon;

(B) the subject of the threat or the person to whom the threat is communicated:

(i) is a judicial officer or bailiff of any court; or

(ii) is a prosecuting attorney or a deputy prosecuting attorney;

and the threat relates to the person's status as a judicial officer, bailiff, prosecuting attorney, or deputy prosecuting attorney, or is made in connection with the official duties of the judicial officer, bailiff, prosecuting attorney, or deputy prosecuting attorney; or

(C) the threat is:

(i) to commit terrorism; or

(ii) made in furtherance of an act of terrorism.

     (c) "Threat" means an expression, by words or action, of an intention to:

(1) unlawfully injure the person threatened or another person, or damage property;

(2) unlawfully subject a person to physical confinement or restraint;

(3) commit a crime;

(4) unlawfully withhold official action, or cause such withholding;

(5) unlawfully withhold testimony or information with respect to another person's legal claim or defense, except for a reasonable claim for witness fees or expenses;

(6) expose the person threatened to hatred, contempt, disgrace, or ridicule;

(7) falsely harm the credit or business reputation of a person; or

(8) cause the evacuation of a dwelling, a building, another structure, or a vehicle. For purposes of this subdivision, the term includes an expression that would cause a reasonable person to consider the evacuation of a dwelling, a building, another structure, or a vehicle, even if the dwelling, building, structure, or vehicle is not evacuated.

As added by Acts 1976, P.L.148, SEC.5. Amended by Acts 1977, P.L.340, SEC.71; Acts 1981, P.L.300, SEC.3; P.L.183-1984, SEC.6; P.L.325-1985, SEC.1; P.L.242-1993, SEC.3; P.L.164-1993, SEC.12; P.L.1-1994, SEC.169; P.L.241-2001, SEC.3; P.L.175-2003, SEC.3; P.L.3-2006, SEC.2; P.L.123-2013, SEC.3; P.L.158-2013, SEC.523; P.L.168-2014, SEC.82; P.L.85-2017, SEC.114; P.L.66-2019, SEC.17; P.L.5-2022, SEC.6.

 

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 333 cases (22 in the last 5 years), 1982–2026 · leading case: Daniel Brewington v. State of Indiana, 7 N.E.3d 946 (Ind. 2014).
Daniel Brewington v. State of Indiana, 7 N.E.3d 946 (Ind. 2014). · cites it 14× “Enforceability of the Intimidation Statute Generally As the discussion above illustrates, the “actual malice” standard is so steep that prosecutions involving public figures or issues of public concern under Indiana Code section 35-45-2-1 (c)(6) or (7) are all but impossible.”
Eberle v. State, 942 N.E.2d 848 (Ind. Ct. App. 2011). · cites it 16× “NOTES [1] Ind.Code § 35-45-2-1. [2] I.C. § 35-45-2-2.”
In Re: The Matter of C.L., a Delinquent v. State of Indiana, 2 N.E.3d 798 (Ind. Ct. App. 2014). · cites it 14× “1 Ind. Code § 35-45-2-1 . 2 Landis explained that he was hoping to obtain a $5000 home loan to repair some damage to the water lines in his house.”
E.B. v. State of Indiana, 89 N.E.3d 1087 (Ind. Ct. App. 2017). · cites it 10× “Ind. Code § 35-45-2-1 . The statute further defines a "threat" as: An expression, by words or action, of an intention to: (1) unlawfully injure the person threatened or another person, or damage property; (2) unlawfully subject a person to physical confinement or restraint; (3)…”
Michael Johnson v. State of Indiana, 6 N.E.3d 491 (Ind. Ct. App. 2014). · cites it 10× “I.C. §§ 35-45-2-1 (a)(2); (b)(1)(A). . I.”
Casey v. State, 676 N.E.2d 1069 (Ind. Ct. App. 1997). · cites it 10× “I.C. § 35-45-2-1; Hendrix v. State, 615 N.”
Montgomery v. State, 878 N.E.2d 262 (Ind. Ct. App. 2007). · cites it 8× “Indiana Code § 35-45-2-1 provides, in pertinent part: *266 (a) A person who communicates a threat to another person, with the intent: * * ¾: ⅜ # ,⅝ (2) that the other person be placed in fear of retaliation for a prior lawful act .”
Leonard Blackmon v. State of Indiana, 32 N.E.3d 1178 (Ind. Ct. App. 2015). · cites it 18× “He then asked who had given 1 Ind. Code § 35-45-2-1 . Court of Appeals of Indiana | Opinion 71A03-1411-CR-413 | May 22, 2015 Page 2 of 19 them permission to use the water.”
United States v. Ellis, Bernard, 622 F.3d 784 (7th Cir. 2010). · cites it 5× “Their disagreement centers on whether his Indiana conviction for felony intimidation under Ind.Code § 35-45-2-1 qualifies as a third violent felony.”
Rakiea McCaskill v. State of Indiana, 3 N.E.3d 1047 (Ind. Ct. App. 2014). · cites it 8× “Pursuant to Indiana Code § 35-45-2-1(a), a person commits intimidation if that person "communicates a threat to another person, with the intent: (1) that the other person engage in conduct against the other person's will; [or] (2) that the other person be placed in fear of…”
McIntire v. State, 717 N.E.2d 96 (Ind. 1999). · cites it 6× “CODE § 35-45-2-1 (1993 & Supp.1996). Each of these statutory provisions requires proof of an additional fact which the other does not.”
Roar v. State, 52 N.E.3d 940 (Ind. Ct. App. 2016). · cites it 4× “” Ind. Code § 35-45-2-1 (2013). A reasonable fact-finder could conclude that the State presented sufficient evidence to support its charge of intimidation.”
Ind. Code § 35-45-2-1(2): 1 case
Ind. Code § 35-45-2-1(a): 28 cases
Rakiea McCaskill v. State of Indiana, 3 N.E.3d 1047 (Ind. Ct. App. 2014). “Pursuant to Indiana Code § 35-45-2-1(a), a person commits intimidation if that person "communicates a threat to another person, with the intent: (1) that the other person engage in conduct against the other person's will; [or] (2) that the other person be placed in fear of…”
Lainhart v. State, 916 N.E.2d 924 (Ind. Ct. App. 2009).
Ransley v. State, 850 N.E.2d 443 (Ind. Ct. App. 2006).
Owens v. State, 659 N.E.2d 466 (Ind. 1995).
Holloway v. State, 51 N.E.3d 376 (Ind. Ct. App. 2016).
Ind. Code § 35-45-2-1(a)(1): 25 cases
Sharkey v. State, 967 N.E.2d 1074 (Ind. Ct. App. 2012).
Crafton v. State, 821 N.E.2d 907 (Ind. Ct. App. 2005).
Owens v. State, 659 N.E.2d 466 (Ind. 1995).
Rakiea McCaskill v. State of Indiana, 3 N.E.3d 1047 (Ind. Ct. App. 2014). “Pursuant to Indiana Code § 35-45-2-1(a), a person commits intimidation if that person "communicates a threat to another person, with the intent: (1) that the other person engage in conduct against the other person's will; [or] (2) that the other person be placed in fear of…”
Gabriel A. Merriweather v. State of Indiana, 128 N.E.3d 503 (Ind. Ct. App. 2019).
Ind. Code § 35-45-2-1(a)(1)(b)(1): 1 case
Allen v. State, 737 N.E.2d 741 (Ind. 2000).
Ind. Code § 35-45-2-1(a)(2): 33 cases
Michael Johnson v. State of Indiana, 6 N.E.3d 491 (Ind. Ct. App. 2014). “I.C. §§ 35-45-2-1 (a)(2); (b)(1)(A). . I.”
United States v. Ellis, Bernard, 622 F.3d 784 (7th Cir. 2010). “Their disagreement centers on whether his Indiana conviction for felony intimidation under Ind.Code § 35-45-2-1 qualifies as a third violent felony.”
Leonard Blackmon v. State of Indiana, 32 N.E.3d 1178 (Ind. Ct. App. 2015). “He then asked who had given 1 Ind. Code § 35-45-2-1 . Court of Appeals of Indiana | Opinion 71A03-1411-CR-413 | May 22, 2015 Page 2 of 19 them permission to use the water.”
Eberle v. State, 942 N.E.2d 848 (Ind. Ct. App. 2011). “NOTES [1] Ind.Code § 35-45-2-1. [2] I.C. § 35-45-2-2.”
Groves v. State, 823 N.E.2d 1229 (Ind. Ct. App. 2005).
Ind. Code § 35-45-2-1(a)(3): 1 case
Ind. Code § 35-45-2-1(a)(4): 5 cases
Nathan Maxwell v. State of Indiana (Ind. Ct. App. 2025).
Ind. Code § 35-45-2-1(b): 7 cases
Medicus v. State, 664 N.E.2d 1163 (Ind. 1996).
Williams v. State, 677 N.E.2d 1077 (Ind. Ct. App. 1997).
Daniel Brewington v. State of Indiana, 981 N.E.2d 585 (Ind. Ct. App. 2013).
Carnahan v. State, 681 N.E.2d 1164 (Ind. Ct. App. 1997).
Ind. Code § 35-45-2-1(b)(1): 6 cases
Quanardel Wells v. State of Indiana, 2 N.E.3d 123 (Ind. Ct. App. 2014).
Brian Ramsey v. State of Indiana, 122 N.E.3d 1023 (Ind. Ct. App. 2019).
Donald Humphrey v. State of Indiana (Ind. Ct. App. 2012).
Ind. Code § 35-45-2-1(b)(1)(A): 6 cases
Crafton v. State, 821 N.E.2d 907 (Ind. Ct. App. 2005).
Michael Johnson v. State of Indiana, 6 N.E.3d 491 (Ind. Ct. App. 2014). “I.C. §§ 35-45-2-1 (a)(2); (b)(1)(A). . I.”
Sherrell Ex Rel. Sherrell v. N. Cmty. Sch. Corp., 801 N.E.2d 693 (Ind. Ct. App. 2004).
Ind. Code § 35-45-2-1(b)(1)(B): 1 case
Carmona v. State, 827 N.E.2d 588 (Ind. Ct. App. 2005).
Ind. Code § 35-45-2-1(b)(1)(B)(i): 4 cases
Eberle v. State, 942 N.E.2d 848 (Ind. Ct. App. 2011). “NOTES [1] Ind.Code § 35-45-2-1. [2] I.C. § 35-45-2-2.”
United States v. Ellis, Bernard, 622 F.3d 784 (7th Cir. 2010). “Their disagreement centers on whether his Indiana conviction for felony intimidation under Ind.Code § 35-45-2-1 qualifies as a third violent felony.”
Ind. Code § 35-45-2-1(b)(1)(B)(ii): 1 case
Daniel Brewington v. State of Indiana, 7 N.E.3d 946 (Ind. 2014). “Enforceability of the Intimidation Statute Generally As the discussion above illustrates, the “actual malice” standard is so steep that prosecutions involving public figures or issues of public concern under Indiana Code section 35-45-2-1 (c)(6) or (7) are all but impossible.”
Ind. Code § 35-45-2-1(b)(1)(C): 1 case
Ind. Code § 35-45-2-1(b)(2): 7 cases
Harold E. Chastain v. State of Indiana, 58 N.E.3d 235 (Ind. Ct. App. 2016).
Williams v. State, 771 N.E.2d 70 (Ind. 2002).
Norris v. State, 755 N.E.2d 190 (Ind. Ct. App. 2001).
Hall v. State, 831 N.E.2d 823 (Ind. Ct. App. 2005).
Kuchel v. State, 570 N.E.2d 910 (Ind. 1991).
Ind. Code § 35-45-2-1(b)(2)(A): 3 cases
Nathan Maxwell v. State of Indiana (Ind. Ct. App. 2025).
Ind. Code § 35-45-2-1(c): 11 cases
Daniel Brewington v. State of Indiana, 7 N.E.3d 946 (Ind. 2014). “Enforceability of the Intimidation Statute Generally As the discussion above illustrates, the “actual malice” standard is so steep that prosecutions involving public figures or issues of public concern under Indiana Code section 35-45-2-1 (c)(6) or (7) are all but impossible.”
Townsend v. State, 753 N.E.2d 88 (Ind. Ct. App. 2001).
S.D. v. State, 847 N.E.2d 255 (Ind. Ct. App. 2006).
Ind. Code § 35-45-2-1(c)(1): 8 cases
Holloway v. State, 51 N.E.3d 376 (Ind. Ct. App. 2016).
HJ v. State, 746 N.E.2d 400 (Ind. Ct. App. 2001).
Ind. Code § 35-45-2-1(c)(3): 1 case
Ind. Code § 35-45-2-1(c)(6): 2 cases
Daniel Brewington v. State of Indiana, 7 N.E.3d 946 (Ind. 2014). “Enforceability of the Intimidation Statute Generally As the discussion above illustrates, the “actual malice” standard is so steep that prosecutions involving public figures or issues of public concern under Indiana Code section 35-45-2-1 (c)(6) or (7) are all but impossible.”
Ind. Code § 35-45-2-1(c)(7): 1 case
Daher v. Vannatta, 118 F. App'x 981 (7th Cir. 2004).
Ind. Code § 35-45-2-1(d): 7 cases
C.D. v. State of Indiana (mem. dec.) (Ind. Ct. App. 2020).
Victor Roar v. State of Indiana (Ind. Ct. App. 2016).
J.K. v. State of Indiana (mem. dec.) (Ind. Ct. App. 2018).
Ind. Code § 35-45-2-1(d)(1): 4 cases
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