Although many Marylanders probably would not dream that they would ever get accused of sexual assault or a related sex crime, people not quite realize how easy it is, in the heat of the moment, to find oneself facing serious consequences on account of sex-related criminal charge.
One should take for example Maryland’s prohibition on what is commonly called “revenge porn.” Like other states, Maryland is trying to crack down on former spouses and jilted lovers from using private videos with graphic content as a form of intimidation or revenge when the relationship goes south.
Specifically, a person who, even simply in an act of rash judgment, posts “revenge porn” involving a former lover on to a public forum, such as the internet, could face up to two years in prison and could also have to pay a fine of $5,000. Additionally, a conviction could cost a person dearly in terms of professional and personal opportunities they may have in the future.
A person who is accused of posting “revenge porn” should strongly consider speaking to an experienced Maryland criminal defense attorney, such as those who work at our law office, as soon as possible. The “revenge porn” statute has several exceptions. For instance, the porn has to clearly identify the name of the victim in the posting.
Furthermore, the posting has to be with the intention of embarrassing or otherwise disturbing the victim, and it must be posted by someone who knew the victim would not give permission to make the images public.
A charge of “revenge porn” is a serious matter, and it can happen even to a person who made a one-time mistake while in the fit of anger or facing a difficult time in their lives. Defenses to this charge are available and can and should be discussed with an attorney.