Let’s say someone’s been blowing up your phone—not because they need to talk, but just to be annoying. Maybe they leave a voicemail you didn’t ask for, or maybe it’s just call after call after call. Maybe it’s an email or a message over social media that crosses the line. In Indiana, this kind of behavior can get you charged with harassment, and depending on the content and the persistence, those charges can be serious.
This isn’t about one awkward conversation or a poorly timed text. This is about communication that has no legitimate purpose—communication that’s meant to annoy, harass, or alarm another person.
What Counts as Harassment?
Under Indiana law, harassment charges can be based on all kinds of communication:
- Phone calls (even if no one picks up)
- Voicemails
- Emails and text messages
- Written messages through social media
- Even old-school mail or, for you history buffs, a telegraph
It doesn’t matter whether you’re using a smartphone, a laptop, or a citizen’s band radio—if the message is out of line and has no lawful reason behind it, it could get you charged. Indiana’s harassment statute isn’t about your platform; it’s about your intent and the effect your words have on the other person.
If someone keeps contacting another person with no good reason—and especially if they’re using obscene, indecent, or profane language—the State might see that as harassment. It doesn’t matter whether it’s one gross message or dozens of annoying ones. Either way, if the intent was to disturb or harass someone, that’s enough to trigger criminal charges.
And remember, this isn’t a civil suit. This is criminal court. If you’re charged and convicted, you could be facing real penalties, including jail time, fines, and a permanent record. In today’s world, where electronic communication is constant, Indiana courts are not taking these allegations lightly.
What Makes a Message “Obscene”?
Not every uncomfortable message rises to the level of criminal harassment. Indiana law says that something is obscene if:
- It appeals to the prurient interest (read: it’s all about sex),
- It describes sexual conduct in a patently offensive way, or
- It lacks serious artistic, literary, political, or scientific value.
The standard here is based on contemporary community norms, which means that what might’ve flown in the 90s AOL chat rooms might land you in court today.
Sending unsolicited nude photos or sexually explicit messages with no justification or welcome? That could be enough for a harassment charge on the obscenity grounds alone. And no, you don’t get to claim it was a joke or “just flirting.” The law doesn’t care about your sense of humor if the other person isn’t laughing.
Obscenity standards are rooted in what a reasonable person would find offensive. And when in doubt, courts usually err on the side of protecting the recipient, not the sender.
Does It Have to Be Repeated?
Nope. Repeated contact makes the State’s case stronger, but one single message could be enough if it’s bad enough. If your message is both unwanted and obscene, it doesn’t have to be part of a larger pattern to result in criminal charges.
That being said, repetition definitely makes things worse. If you’re sending message after message—texting, calling, emailing, tagging them on social media—that’s when prosecutors start talking about intent and pattern of behavior. Even if your goal wasn’t to intimidate, the law focuses on how your actions are received.
We’ve seen harassment charges filed based on:
- Dozens of missed calls
- Inappropriate images sent via DM
- Angry rants emailed late at night
- Voicemails filled with profanity
Sometimes it only takes one message to start a legal nightmare. Don’t wait until it snowballs.
Why You Need to Take This Seriously
If you’re under investigation or already facing a harassment charge, your best move is to stop all communication with the other person immediately. Even if you think you’re being misunderstood, continuing to reach out only makes things worse.
This isn’t the time to prove your innocence in the court of public opinion or beg for forgiveness over text. This is the time to protect yourself legally.
Your second-best move? Call a criminal defense attorney. At the Marc Lopez Law Firm, we’ve seen harassment charges play out from both sides—as criminal cases and as protective order disputes. We know how to assess the facts, mitigate the fallout, and help you avoid making things worse.
An experienced Indiana criminal defense lawyer knows how to:
- Push back against vague or overly broad claims of harassment
- Separate emotional overreactions from criminal intent
- Keep you from accidentally incriminating yourself during questioning
You need a harassment lawyer who understands the local courts, knows the law, and has a game plan from day one.
Whether You’re Accused or Concerned, We Can Help
Harassment can be a tricky charge. Maybe you meant no harm. Maybe you just wanted closure. Maybe you really were trying to be funny. None of that matters if the State decides your behavior crossed the line. When you’re facing charges—or even just being investigated—you need to take it seriously from the start.
At the Marc Lopez Law Firm, we fight Indiana criminal defense battles every day, including those involving harassment. If someone’s accused you of going too far, or if you think things might be heading in that direction, give us a call at 317-632-3642.
And remember—always plead the 5th.