banner
Contact Us
Case Evaluation
close

    Yale Sextortion Lawyer

    If you are accused of blackmailing someone with the use of intimate images, the next steps you take will make a tremendous difference in what the rest of your life looks like. Whether this is your first time being faced with criminal charges or you have one or more prior convictions on your record, a Yale sextortion lawyer can be a vital ally throughout your case.

    What Counts as “Sextortion” Under State Law?

    The term “sextortion” does not appear explicitly in the Connecticut General Statutes (C.G.S.). Instead, state law refers to this sort of offense as the “unlawful dissemination of an intimate image” in most situations. It is defined in C.G.S. § 53a-189c as the intentional distribution of a photo, video, or recorded image of another in a sexually compromising or explicit position to someone other than its intended recipient.

    More specifically, the image must display the person’s genitals, buttocks, pubic area, or breasts below the top of the nipple—if they identify as female—with less than a fully opaque covering or engaged in sexual intercourse. Furthermore, the defendant must have distributed the image intentionally, without the depicted party’s consent, and with the knowledge that the depicted party would not want it so disseminated.

    In addition, the depicted party must have experienced harm of some kind from the distribution of the image(s) in question. However, as a Yale sextortion attorney can further explain, there are a few exceptions where the dissemination of intimate photos does not constitute a criminal offense under this statute, such as when the depicted person voluntarily exposed themselves and engaged in intercourse in a public place, if the depicted person is not clearly identifiable, or if distributing the image serves the public interest.

    What are the Possible Penalties of a Sextortion Conviction?

    Someone convicted of violating C.G.S. §53a-189c may face penalties equal to that of a Class A misdemeanor, meaning maximum sanctions of one year in jail and $2,000 in fines. However, this statute only applies to someone disseminating intimate material specifically to harm someone else, also known colloquially as “revenge porn.”

    If someone threatens to distribute such material to extort money or something else of value, they may be prosecuted for a Class B felony instead. This is because extortion of any kind automatically constitutes Larceny in the First Degree under C.G.S. §53a-122(a)(1), which is why representation from a seasoned defense attorney can be especially vital to effectively contesting sextortion allegations at or around Yale.

    Contact a Yale Sextortion Attorney for a Dedicated Defense

    Sextortion is a serious criminal accusation in Connecticut, particularly if you are accused of attempting to extort someone else with their own intimate images. Put simply, this is a situation you should not even think about trying to handle without an experienced legal professional on your side.

    A Yale sextortion lawyer can give you the legal support and practical guidance you need to achieve the best possible legal outcome, given the circumstances. Call Mark Sherman Law to learn more, and click here to check-out our over 300 certified client reviews on Avvo.com.