Ward v. State

SHEPARD, Chief Justice.

The question presented is whether solicitation of a child may suffice for conviction of attempted child molesting. As the trial judge correctly noted, this is a question of first impression in Indiana.

Appellant Lawrence Ward was convicted after a bench trial of attempting to molest a child under twelve, a class B felony, Ind.Code §§ 35-42-4-3(a), 35-41-5-1, and attempting to molest a child age twelve through fifteen, a class C felony, Ind.Code §§ 35-42-4-3(c), 35-41-5-1 (Burns 1985 Repl.). The judge sentenced Ward to fifteen years in prison for the class B felony *53and…