Indiana Legislative Session Update
Mid-Session: Civil Law
The following civil law bills passed out of their originating house: SB 17 Age verification for material harmful to minors SB 36 Interference with boundary marker SB 226 Attorney’s fees HB 1003 Administrative law HB 1209 Rule against perpetuities HB 1235 Prohibited causes of action concerning firearms.
Mid-Session: Criminal Law
The following criminal law bills passed out of their originating house: SB 23 Damage to a fire suppression system SB 70 Bail and release review commission SB 149 Tobacco sales SB 151 Statute of limitations SB 170 Crimes and election workers (f/k/a Various elections matters) SB 172 Compensation for victims of violent crime SB 179.
Mid-Session: Family Law
SB 16 Guardians ad litem in adoption The following bill died in its originating house: SB 46 Parental rights
Brownsburg Man Sentenced to Nine Years in Federal Prison for Sharing Thousands of Child Sexual Abuse Videos and Images
Mario Parker, 22, of Brownsburg, Indiana, has been sentenced to nine years in federal prison after pleading guilty to possession of child sexual abuse material. According to court documents, in June of 2021, investigators discovered that an individual living in California had been sharing sexually explicit images and videos via the social media application Kik with someone later identified as Mario Parker.
In chats over Kik, Parker learned that the individual from California worked in a daycare and had a sexual interest in children. Knowing that, Parker asked the daycare employee to distribute sexually explicit images and videos of the children in the daycare to Parker knowing that it would result in their sexual exploitation. In one of the Kik conversations, Parker admitted that he would like to adopt a daughter with the intention of raping her.
On June 30, 2022, officers executed a federal search warrant at Parker’s residence in Brownsburg and found a Samsung Galaxy cell phone. During a search of the phone, investigators located several graphic sexual abuse videos of children as young as three years old being forcefully tied down and raped by adult men, as well as videos depicting bestiality. In total, officers recovered thousands of images and approximately 889 videos of child sexual abuse from Parker’s cell phone and accounts.
In an interview with investigators, Parker admitted to using social media applications such as Kik, Snapchat, and Telegram to communicate about and share child sexual abuse material with users who shared his sexual interest in children.
If you are a victim of child sexual exploitation, please contact your local police department. Resources for victims of child exploitation can be found on our website at https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdin/project-safe-childhood
Consumer Alert: According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, the following consumer products were recalled in January:
- Bokser Home Recalls Mattress Pads Due to Fire Hazard and Violation of Federal Mattress Pad Flammability Regulation
- Boot Royalty Recalls Men’s Leather Work Boots Due to Crush Hazard
- H.H. Brown Shoe Company Recalls Redeemer Work Boots Due to Injury Hazard
- UBBCARE Play Yard Mattresses Recalled Due to Suffocation Hazard for Infants; Violation of the Federal Safety Regulation for Crib Mattresses; Sold Exclusively on Amazon.com by UBBCARE
If you believe you recently purchased a recalled product, stop using it, and check its recall notice. Then, follow the notice’s instructions, including where to return the product or what steps must be taken to receive a replacement product. To view recalls issued prior to January, visit the Consumer Protection Safety Commission website.
This Week in Hoosier History
1936 – Fred Jewell died in his hometown of Worthington, Indiana. He was conductor of the Ringling Brothers Barnum & Bailey circus band. A prolific composer, he became known as “Indiana’s March King.” In later years he returned to Worthington to conduct the high school band as well as the Murat Temple and Sahara Grotto bands in Indianapolis.
For more local news . . . Check out our archived episodes of What’s Happenin’ and Talkin’ Sports with Nick Jenkinson