Attempted child molestation conviction does not lead to credit restricted status

The Indiana Court of Appeals reversed the determination that an Elkhart County man was a credit restricted felon following his conviction of attempted molestation of his daughter, finding attempted child molestation isn’t included among offenses that qualify under the credit restricted felon statute.

Danny Boling was convicted of Class A felony attempted child molesting and Class C felony child molesting for touching his five-year-old daughter over and under her underwear and putting her hand on his bare private. He was sentenced to 45 years, and Elkhart Superior Judge George Biddlecome found Boling was a credit restricted felon pursuant to Indiana Code 35-31.5-2-72(1).

Boling challenged his attempted child molesting conviction, sentence and credit restricted felon status. The judges found the state proved that Boling knowingly attempted to commit child molesting and engaged in an overt act constituting a substantial step toward that crime when he touched his daughter’s private parts first over her underwear, then directly on her skin.

“The natural and usual sequence to which such conduct reasonably points is that Boling had taken a substantial step toward inserting his finger or fingers into K.B.’s vagina. A reasonable jury could find based upon this testimony that Boling had attempted to commit deviate sexual conduct,” Chief Judge Margret Robb wrote in Danny Boling v. State of Indiana, 20A04-1205-CR-237.

The trial court relied on the Class A felony conviction to rule Boling is a credit restricted felon, but attempted child molesting involving deviate sexual conduct is not listed as a qualifying offense nor is the attempt statute cited. The judges reversed and remanded for the trial court to correct Boling’s records to remove the credit restricted felon designation.

Finally, the judges upheld his 45-year sentence, citing he was in a position of trust and tried to have the child place the blame on her brother.