Have you been accused of sharing revenge porn? Or creating AI based images in order to target an ex? Revenge porn allegations are serious criminal harassment charges that have consequences that could follow you for the rest of your life. Hiring an experienced Boston sex crimes defense attorney is strongly advised.
What Is Revenge Porn in Massachusetts?
Revenge porn is a form of criminal harassment in which explicit images are shared as a way of taking revenge or doing reputational damage to someone, often an ex-partner.
Massachusetts is one of the two final states with South Carolina to crack down on revenge porn. The Massachusetts House of Representatives just passed a law that will crack down on revenge porn by adding new language to criminal harassment laws.
What is Criminal Harassment?
Criminal harassment is a knowing pattern of speech, conduct or actions that wilfully and intentionally targets a victim who experiences alarm as a result of the alleged harassment and/or substantial emotional distress.
Revenge porn is a new subset of criminal harassment that results in fines and punishment that are more severe than criminal harassment itself. Dissemination or publishing explicit material, otherwise known as “revenge porn,” with the intent to harm someone is punishable by a fine of up to $10,000, or imprisonment in the House of Correction for 2 and 1/2 years, or both. A second offense of criminal harassment revenge porn is punishable by a fine of up to $15,000, and/or imprisonment in the house of correction for 2 and ½ years, or imprisonment in state prison for up to 10 years.
Do You Need a Revenge Porn Attorney to Defend Against Prosecution of Revenge Porn Charges?
If you have been accused of criminal harassment by means of revenge porn you need an experienced sex crimes and criminal harassment attorney in your corner to defend you against these allegations. To prove the crime of revenge porn, prosecutors have to show that the victim suffered substantial emotional distress or physical or economic harm, The images were of a non-commercial nature in a setting where there was a reasonable expectation of privacy, there was no consent to sharing the images, the person in the picture was identifiable or identified by the person sharing, fully or partially nude or engaged in sexual acts and that the alleged harassment was intentional.
An experienced criminal defense attorney will scrutinize the prosecution’s evidence against you and ensure that you are not convicted of a crime you are not responsible for under the definition of the law. Sex crimes are serious crimes that carry lasting social stigma. At Dhar Law, LLP, we have defended countless serious sex crimes and harassment cases in state courts. We believe in your right to a fair trial and we offer a robust and accessible defense with translation services available in all major languages and a full explanation of your rights and options.
To find out what your options and legal rights are, please contact our offices today at 617-880-6155 for a free consultation. If you or someone you know has been accused of disseminating revenge porn please do not hesitate to reach out to our experienced Boston Sex Crimes Defense attorneys without delay.