
In the state of Illinois, revenge porn is illegal. Someone found guilty of posting revenge porn runs the risk of being forced to pay significant damages on top of potential criminal consequences.
Going over the consequences of revenge porn, and speaking with a Cook County criminal defense attorney, will make it easier for you to protect yourself from a revenge porn accusation.
What Is Revenge Porn?
The definition of revenge porn is as follows: private sexual images that were spread without the featured individual’s consent and with the intent to cause harm.
Just as an example, if you provide a photo of yourself to your boyfriend, and they spread this photo to all of your Facebook friends in order to humiliate you and get you fired, then this would likely be considered revenge porn.
To be considered revenge porn in the state of Illinois, there are several criteria that must be satisfied:
- The image was a private sexual image.
- The person in the image is at least 18 years old.
- The person depicted is identifiable due to the image or information connected to the image.
- The person in the image has their intimate parts exposed or is engaged in a sexual act.
- The person posting the image should have known that the image was to remain private.
If an accuser can prove that these three criteria have been satisfied, then they could be entitled to damages. These accusations could also lead to criminal consequences.
What Are The Consequences Of Revenge Porn?
The consequences of revenge porn are as follows:
- If you are found to have spread revenge porn, your accuser could be entitled to up to $10,000.
- They may be entitled to more, depending on the damages, harm, and distress the revenge porn caused.
- You could be asked to pay your accuser the amount of money the revenge porn made for you.
- Depending on your accuser’s case, you could be ordered to pay punitive damages.
None of these consequences are pleasant, and each one can be very expensive.
What Are The Criminal Consequences Of Revenge Porn?
The state of Illinois has made it illegal for people to post private sexual images of another person. And, if someone is found guilty of posting images of this sort, they could be charged with a Class 4 felony.
A Class 4 felony will, in many cases, bring the following consequences:
- A period of one to three years in prison.
- A fine of up to $25,000.
Both of these consequences are very unpleasant. And this isn’t even getting into the damages you could be ordered to pay if you are found to have posted revenge porn.
The best way to avoid criminal consequences for a revenge porn accusation is to work with a good attorney.
A qualified attorney will contest the claims made against you. By doing so, they will demonstrate that you are not responsible for the revenge porn you posted.
Outside of protecting you from criminal charges, an experienced attorney can also protect you from the damages that a revenge porn case could bring.
Get Qualified Legal Help Today
If you need representation for a revenge porn accusation, Glasgow & Olsson is uniquely qualified to help you.
Our team has helped thousands of people who have been charged with crimes in Illinois. When we take cases, we do so to win. This means we take cases to trial. We don’t arrange plea bargains unless it is in the best interest of our clients. As proactive lawyers, we fight aggressively and support our clients throughout their entire case up to and including appeals. Protecting your life and freedom is always the goal, and with our decades of experience practicing law, we know how to get results. This is why we are regularly invited to appear as a legal contributor on popular radio and news outlets, including ABC, CNN, NBC, CBS, and Fox NEWS.
When you need an attorney, experience matters.
Speak with a Chicago criminal defense attorney today to learn how our experience can help you get the results you need.