Senate votes to bar rapist contact with child conceived in assault

INDIANAPOLIS | The Indiana Senate voted 50-0 Tuesday to cut off a rapist from a child created by his crime.

Senate Bill 190, sponsored by state Sen. Ed Charbonneau, R-Valparaiso, prohibits a rapist from seeking custody, parenting time or contact with a child born as a result of a rape.

Charbonneau said 35,000 U.S. women annually are are impregnated by rape.

Without legislation ensuring no child-contact rights, the victim is "sentenced to a lifetime tethered to their rapist," Charbonneau said.

The measure now advances to the House.