Sextortion is a new crime in which people use hacking, extortion, and sexual harassment to coerce a person into providing sexual images, favors, or money. This crime, while relatively new, is on the rise according to the FBI. This post will go over this new crime and how it may affect you.
Everyone is familiar with the celebrity hacked photos that leak onto the Internet. It seems that people are now taking those talents and applying them to everyday people. The FBI is using the story of Ashley Reynolds who was the victim of sextortion. She was 14 at the time and contacted online by a person she believed was a teenage boy.
The online personality threatened to release sexually explicit photos of her unless she sent him more topless images. This went on for several months until she told her parents, who contacted the police. The investigation eventually led to Lucas Michael Chansler who is now serving 105 years in prison for multiple counts of child production convictions.
Mr. Chansler is now serving a sentence that is considerably longer than most murderers. This conviction illustrates that the police, FBI, and courts take this new criminal trend seriously.
If you are facing sex crime charges, it is important that you contact a defense attorney as soon as possible. As you can see, the police, courts, and the public are very sensitive about sex crimes. Depending on the nature of your arrest, it may be best to avoid a criminal trial. An attorney can go over the risks with you and advise you on the best course for your defense.
