Ryan McLaughlin Sentenced to 184½ Years Following Child Molesting Convictions

 Hendricks County, IN — Ryan McLaughlin has been sentenced to 184½ years in the Indiana Department of Correction after being found guilty by a Hendricks County jury of repeatedly molesting a five year old child.

McLaughlin was arrested on April 11, 2024, after a probable cause finding resulted in an arrest warrant being issued.

The case went to trial in August 2026, with the jury trial beginning on August 10 and continuing through August 12.

On August 12, 2026, the jury found McLaughlin guilty of three Level 1 felony counts of Child Molesting, a Level 4 felony count of Child Molesting, a Level 6 felony count of Dissemination of Matter Harmful to Minors and a Level 6 felony count of Failure to Register as a Sex or Violent Offender.

The jury also found McLaughlin to be a Repeat Sex Offender and Habitual Offender. Following the verdicts, he was remanded to the custody of the Hendricks County Sheriff with no bond while awaiting sentencing.

Evidence presented during the trial showed the abuse occurred repeatedly over several months. McLaughlin also showed the child pornography and instructed the child to imitate what was shown.

McLaughlin was also accused of threatening to kill the child's mother if the child disclosed the abuse.

At the time of the offenses, McLaughlin was already a convicted sex offender. Evidence presented in the case showed he had moved into a home where children were living and falsely reported to authorities that no minors lived there.

McLaughlin was sentenced today to 184½ years in the Indiana Department of Correction.