Darien Sextortion Lawyer
No matter how the allegations against you came about or how court authorities plan to prosecute them, a seasoned defense attorney’s assistance will almost certainly be vital to getting the best possible resolution from your legal proceedings. From start to finish of your case, your Darien sextortion lawyer can ensure your rights are respected and pursue an outcome that suits your best interests.
What Is “Revenge Porn” Under State Law?
Since “sextortion” is a colloquial term rather than one specifically defined in the Connecticut Penal Code, there are technically two ways that the court system can approach allegations of this nature. The comparatively less severe version of this offense is often colloquially referred to as “revenge porn” but is labeled under Connecticut General Statutes § 53a-189c as “unlawful dissemination of an intimate image.”
According to this statute, it is illegal for someone to spread an intimate image of someone else knowingly and intentionally under circumstances where the depicted person did not consent to the photo being shared, had a reasonable expectation that the image would remain private, and suffered some kind of physical, financial, emotional, or reputational harm as a result of the defendant’s actions. Notably, though, this type of act is not considered a violation of C.G.S. § 53a-189c if:
- The depicted person was voluntarily exposing them or engaging in sexual intercourse in a commercial context or in public;
- The depicted person is not clearly identifiable; and/or
- If dissemination of the image “serves the public interests.”
This offense is a Class A misdemeanor punishable by up to one year of jail and a maximum of $2,000 in fines if the image in question was disseminated to just one other person. However, as a Darien sextortion attorney can affirm, this offense becomes a Class D felony if the image was sent to two or more people through any kind of computer or telecommunications service.
Sextortion as a Form of Larceny in Darien
Whether it involves disseminating explicit images of another person solely to cause them harm or as a way of coercing money or something else of value from them, “sextortion” is taken seriously and prosecuted extremely harshly in Connecticut. Even a first-time offense may face felony-level consequences after a conviction for this type of offense. Under certain circumstances, this kind of charge may carry mandatory minimum prison terms along with it.
If someone threatens to disseminate someone else’s intimate images as a means of extorting money, services, or anything else of value from the depicted person, the offense becomes a form of Larceny in the First Degree as defined under C.G.S. § 53a-122. Regardless of the amount of money or the value of goods or services obtained, the fact that the defendant’s actions constituted Extortion means this offense is always considered a Class B felony.
Someone convicted of this form of sextortion could face a mandatory minimum one-year prison sentence that cannot be lowered or suspended and up to a maximum 20-year term, as well as a maximum of $15,000 in fines. Support from a seasoned sextortion defense attorney in Darien is crucial to effectively contesting this type of allegation.
Contact a Darien Sextortion Attorney for Assistance
Being accused of harming or extorting someone through the misuse of intimate images taken of them can result in life-altering criminal sanctions if it leads to a conviction. Anyone facing accusations along these lines should make contacting and retaining capable legal counsel one of their top priorities.
A Darien sextortion lawyer from Mark Sherman Law can provide the custom-tailored legal guidance you need to resolve your charges as amicably as possible. Call today to schedule a meeting and review what previous clients have said about working with us here.