A repeat sex offender has been sentenced to 184.5 years in the Indiana Department of Correction following his conviction for repeatedly molesting a five-year-old child.
Ryan McLaughlin was found guilty by a jury on six separate counts, including three Level 1 felony counts of child molesting, a Level 4 felony count of child molesting, and two Level 6 felony counts for providing obscene matter to a minor and violating sex offender registry requirements.
Court records show McLaughlin repeatedly sexually abused the young victim over several months. Evidence established that he showed the child pornography, instructed her to imitate the content, and threatened to kill her mother if she reported the abuse.
McLaughlin was already a registered sex offender at the time of the offenses. Officials noted he moved into a home with children and falsely reported to law enforcement that no minors resided at the location.
The court cited several aggravating circumstances in sentencing McLaughlin to more than a century behind bars, including his extensive criminal history, his position of care and trust over the victim, the severe emotional damage inflicted, and the death threats made against the child’s mother. The jury determined McLaughlin to be a Repeat Sexual Offender, and the Court classified him as a Habitual Offender, triggering statutory penalty enhancements.
Hendricks County Prosecutor Loren Delp issued a statement following the sentencing:
“Repeat sexual offenders who prey upon children are among the most dangerous criminals in our society. McLaughlin had already been convicted of a sex offense, yet he found another vulnerable child and repeatedly victimized her. While it is too late for this case, I would welcome the reintroduction and passage of Rep. Andrew Ireland’s House Bill 1312 next session. Making the death penalty or life imprisonment without parole available for aggravated child molesting would be a significant advancement toward justice.”
Prosecutor Delp credited the victim and her family for their strength throughout the legal process, noting that their bravery made the conviction possible. Delp also commended Senior Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Christine Archer, Hendricks County Sheriff’s Office Detective Samuel Chandler, victim advocates, and Susie’s Place Child Advocacy Center for their work on the case.
