Whoever, whether or not acting under color of law, by force or threat of force intentionally injures intimidates or interferes with, or attempts to injure, intimidate or interfere with:
(A) Any person because of his or her race, color, religion, sex, disability, familial status or national origin and because he or she is or has been selling, purchasing, renting, financing, occupying or contracting or negotiating for the sale, purchase, rental, financing or occupation of any dwelling, or applying for or participating in any service, organization or facility relating to the business of selling or renting dwellings; or
(B) Any person because he or she is or has been, or to intimidate the person from:
(1) Participating, without discrimination on account of race, color, religion, sex, disability, familial status or national origin, in an activity, service, organization or facility described in division (A) above;
(2) Affording another person opportunity or protection to participate in any activity, service, organization or facility described in division (A) above; or
(3) Any citizen because he or she is or has been, or in order to discourage such citizen or any other citizen from lawfully aiding or encouraging other persons to participate, without discrimination on account of race, color, religion, sex, disability, familial status or national origin, in an activity, service, organization or facility described in division (A) above, or participating lawfully in speech or peaceful assembly opposing any denial of the opportunity to participate is subject to the following penalties under state law:
(a) A fine of not more than $1,000, or imprisonment for not more than one year, or both;
(b) A fine of not more than $10,000 or imprisonment for not more than ten years, or both, if bodily injury results from the violation; and
(c) Imprisonment for any term of years or for life if death results from the violation.
(Ord. 98-5, passed 2-2-1998)
Statutory reference:
Fair Housing Code offenses, see I.C. 22-9.5-10-1