Sec. 17. (a) A sex or violent offender who knowingly or intentionally:

(1) fails to register when required to register under this chapter;

(2) fails to register in every location where the sex or violent offender is required to register under this chapter;

(3) makes a material misstatement or omission while registering as a sex or violent offender under this chapter;

(4) fails to register in person as required under this chapter; or

(5) does not reside at the sex or violent offender's registered address or location;

commits a Level 6 felony.

(b) The offense described in subsection (a) is a Level 5 felony if the sex or violent offender has a prior unrelated conviction for an offense:

(1) under this section;

(2) based on the person's failure to comply with any requirement imposed on a sex or violent offender under this chapter or under IC 5-2-12 before its repeal; or

(3) that:

(A) is a crime under the laws of another jurisdiction, including a military court; and

(B) is:

(i) the same or substantially similar to an offense under this section; or

(ii) based on the person's failure to comply with a requirement imposed on the person that is the same or substantially similar to a requirement imposed on a sex or violent offender under this chapter or under IC 5-2-12 before its repeal.

(c) It is not a defense to a prosecution under this section that the sex or violent offender was unable to pay the sex or violent offender registration fee or the sex or violent offender address change fee described under IC 36-2-13-5.6.

As added by P.L.140-2006, SEC.13 and P.L.173-2006, SEC.13. Amended by P.L.216-2007, SEC.25; P.L.158-2013, SEC.174; P.L.44-2018, SEC.1.