Darien Sextortion Lawyer
If you are facing allegations of unlawful dissemination of an intimate image or larceny by extortion, talking to a Darien sextortion lawyer may be in your best interests. An experienced sex crimes attorney could help you understand the exact nature of your charges, work to build a comprehensive defense strategy, and tirelessly seek a positive case resolution on your behalf.
How Is “Sextortion” Criminalized Under State Law?
Depending on the circumstances, a Connecticut resident who engages in “sextortion” may face charges under one of a few different statutes. “Revenge porn”—the act of sharing intimate images over a personal grievance, with no additional monetary motivation—generally results in charges filed under Connecticut General Statutes §53a-189c.
This section of state law defines “unlawful dissemination of an intimate image” as someone selling, trading, publishing, distributing, or otherwise spreading any video or photograph depicting someone else in a sexually suggestive, intimate, or explicit position, while knowing that the depicted individual expects the image to remain private and would suffer harm as a result of its dissemination. This offense is a class A misdemeanor, so a conviction could leave a defendant facing $2,000 in fines, as well as up to a year in jail.
Conversely, if someone threatens to distribute an intimate image unless the depicted individual pays them not to do so, that act could constitute larceny by extortion, which C.G.S. §53a-122(a)(1) defines as a Class B felony. Since a conviction here could result in a maximum of 20 years in prison, assistance from a skilled Darien sextortion attorney may be especially crucial for anyone charged under this statute.
What If I Delete Messages Following a Sextortion Allegation?
While it is possible to contest “revenge porn” and “sextortion” allegations on procedural, it is absolutely crucial that anyone facing these kinds of charges not delete electronic messages that could potentially incriminate them. Doing so may be considered tampering with physical evidence, a class D felony under C.G.S. §53a-155 that could lead to severe consequences even if a defendant is acquitted of their original charge.
Instead, the best thing to do after being accused of this type of offense is to contact a sextortion lawyer in Darien and let them do as much of the talking as possible. Skilled legal counsel may be able to challenge the prosecution’s assertions that a defendant knew they were sharing an image without consent, or argue against more severe penalties on the basis that the individual depicted in the material in question was not clearly identifiable.
Seek Help from a Darien Sextortion Attorney
Before trying to defend yourself in or out of court, you should first contact a Darien sextortion lawyer. Call today to discuss your legal options and click here to read our hundreds of 5-star reviews on Avvo.com.