Ky. Rev. Stat. » Chapter 510
Kentucky Revised Statutes

Ky. Rev. Stat. § 510.155 (2026)

Unlawful use of electronic means originating or received within the

✓ current as of May 2026
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Commonwealth to induce a minor to engage in sexual or other prohibited activities -- Prohibition of multiple convictions arising from single course of conduct -- Solicitation as evidence of intent.

(1) It shall be unlawful for any person to knowingly use a communications system, including computers, computer networks, computer bulletin boards, cellular telephones, or any other electronic means, for the purpose of:

(a) Procuring or promoting the use of a minor, including a peace officer, or a person working in coordination with law enforcement, posing as a minor if the person believes that the peace officer or the person working in coordination with law enforcement is a minor or is wanton or reckless in that belief; or

(b) Procuring or promoting the use of a minor from an adult intermediary, including a peace officer, or a person working in coordination with law enforcement, posing as an adult intermediary for a minor if the person believes that the peace officer or the person working in coordination with law enforcement is an adult intermediary for a minor or is wanton or reckless in that belief; for any activity in violation of KRS 510.040, 510.050, 510.060, 510.070, 510.080, 510.090, 510.110, 529.100 where that offense involves commercial sexual activity, or 530.064(1)(a), or KRS Chapter 531.

(2) No person shall be convicted of this offense and an offense specified in KRS 506.010, 506.030, 506.040, or 506.080 for a single course of conduct intended to consummate in the commission of the same offense with the same minor or peace officer.

(3) Each day a person knowingly uses a communications system for the purpose of procuring or promoting the use of a minor shall be a separate violation of this section.

(4) The solicitation of a minor through electronic communication under subsection (1) of this section shall be prima facie evidence of the person's intent to commit the offense, and the offense is complete at that point without regard to whether the person met or attempted to meet the minor.

(5) This section shall apply to electronic communications originating within or received within the Commonwealth.

(6) Except as provided in subsection (7) of this section, a violation of this section is punishable as a Class C felony.

(7) A violation of this section is punishable as a Class B felony if:

(a) The minor or perceived minor procured or promoted is under twelve (12) years old;

(b) The offender is a person in a position of authority or position of special trust as those terms are defined in KRS 532.045;

(c) The offender is a registrant;

(d) A person enters into the Commonwealth from another jurisdiction for the purpose of procuring or promoting the use of a minor or perceived minor in violation of this section; or

(e) The minor or perceived minor procured or promoted is for an activity in violation of KRS 529.100 where that offense involves commercial sexual activity. Effective: July 15, 2024 History: Amended 2024 Ky. Acts ch. 106, sec. 6, effective July 15, 2024. -- Amended 2021 Ky. Acts ch. 88, sec. 2, effective June 29, 2021. -- Amended 2013 Ky. Acts ch. 41, sec. 4, effective June 25, 2013. -- Amended 2009 Ky. Acts ch. 100, sec. 1, effective June 25, 2009. -- Amended 2007 Ky. Acts ch. 19, sec. 12, effective June 26, 2007. -- Amended 2006 Ky. Acts ch. 182, sec. 35, effective July 12, 2006. -- Created 2005 Ky. Acts ch. 160, sec. 1, effective June 20, 2005.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 11 cases (9 in the last 5 years), 2009–2026 · leading case: Filzek v. Commonwealth, 309 S.W.3d 790 (Ky. Ct. App. 2009).
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Filzek v. Commonwealth, 309 S.W.3d 790 (Ky. Ct. App. 2009). · cites it 8× “On appeal, Filzek argues that: (1) KRS 510.155 is unconstitutional; and (2) the multiple counts of the indictment violate double jeopardy principles.”
Caraway v. Commonwealth, 459 S.W.3d 849 (Ky. 2015). “064, and one count of unlawful use of electronic means to induce a minor to engage in sexual activities, KRS 510.155. One of the sodomy counts, both unlawful transaction counts, and the unlawful use of electronic means count were later dismissed.”
Nathan Brock v. Commonwealth of Kentucky (Ky. Ct. App. 2026). · cites it 7× “Unlawful Use of Electronic Means to Induce a Minor to Engage in Sexual Activities is codified at KRS 510.155, which provides, in relevant part: (1) It shall be unlawful for any person to knowingly use a communications system, including computers, computer networks, computer…”
John T. Bell v. Commonwealth of Kentucky (Ky. Ct. App. 2023). · cites it 4× “” Bell was found guilty of a felony offense found at KRS 510.155, so he was a registrant. KRS 17.”
Arguello v. Livers (W.D. Ky. 2022). · cites it 4× “100(1)(b); see §§ 510.155, 529.110. Kentucky law also criminalizes “agree[ing]” to “engage in sexual conduct with another person in return for a fee.”
Adam Boone v. Commonwealth of Kentucky (Ky. Ct. App. 2022). · cites it 3× “KRS 510.155(1).5 This Court has previously held “the identity of the person receiving the communication is not the dispositive issue under KRS 510.”
Doe v. Burlew (W.D. Ky. 2024). · cites it 3× “546 and KRS 510.155— that address some of the same interests that purportedly justify KRS 17.”
Earnest Bradley Hall Jr v. Commonwealth of Kentucky (Ky. Ct. App. 2022). · cites it 2× “Hall was indicted under KRS 510.155. Although we agree KRS Chapter 218A is inapplicable only to the extent Hall was not indicted nor convicted for an offense related to controlled substances, KRS 500.”
Rollin v. Off. of Comm'r (W.D. Ky. 2022). · cites it 2× “Rollin further argues that, although he was indicted for a felony offense of prohibited use of electronic means to procure a minor in violation of Ky. Rev. Stat. § 510.155, “once it was determined that I was in fact messaging a 30 y[ea]r old woman, the charge was amended to…”
Auston Stewart v. Commonwealth of Kentucky (Ky. Ct. App. 2024). “One month later, the Rowan County Grand Jury indicted Stewart on unlawful use of electronic means to induce a minor to engage in sexual or other prohibited activities (KRS 510.155). In September 2017, Stewart filed a motion to suppress the police custodial interview and the…”
John W. Ault v. Commonwealth of Kentucky (Ky. Ct. App. 2026). “5 KRS 510.155. 6 KRS 531.335. -12- knowledge, identity, or absence of mistake or accident” or “[i]f so inextricably intertwined with other evidence essential to the case that separation of the two (2) could not be accomplished without serious adverse effect on the offering party.”
— Ky. Rev. Stat. § 510.155(1) — 4 cases
Filzek v. Commonwealth, 309 S.W.3d 790 (Ky. Ct. App. 2009). “On appeal, Filzek argues that: (1) KRS 510.155 is unconstitutional; and (2) the multiple counts of the indictment violate double jeopardy principles.”
Adam Boone v. Commonwealth of Kentucky (Ky. Ct. App. 2022). “KRS 510.155(1).5 This Court has previously held “the identity of the person receiving the communication is not the dispositive issue under KRS 510.”
John T. Bell v. Commonwealth of Kentucky (Ky. Ct. App. 2023). “” Bell was found guilty of a felony offense found at KRS 510.155, so he was a registrant. KRS 17.”
Doe v. Burlew (W.D. Ky. 2024). “546 and KRS 510.155— that address some of the same interests that purportedly justify KRS 17.”
— Ky. Rev. Stat. § 510.155(1)(a) — 1 case
Arguello v. Livers (W.D. Ky. 2022). “100(1)(b); see §§ 510.155, 529.110. Kentucky law also criminalizes “agree[ing]” to “engage in sexual conduct with another person in return for a fee.”
— Ky. Rev. Stat. § 510.155(4) — 1 case
Nathan Brock v. Commonwealth of Kentucky (Ky. Ct. App. 2026). “Unlawful Use of Electronic Means to Induce a Minor to Engage in Sexual Activities is codified at KRS 510.155, which provides, in relevant part: (1) It shall be unlawful for any person to knowingly use a communications system, including computers, computer networks, computer…”
— Ky. Rev. Stat. § 510.155(6) — 1 case
John T. Bell v. Commonwealth of Kentucky (Ky. Ct. App. 2023). “” Bell was found guilty of a felony offense found at KRS 510.155, so he was a registrant. KRS 17.”
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