Modern romantic relationships often involve communicating with one another through text messages, e-mails, and even through social media direct messages (DMs). Furthermore, these messages may include sexually charged conversations and even shared nude photos or videos.
However, when the romance ends, it is not uncommon for one party to feel spiteful enough to get revenge on their ex-partner by sharing intimate images of him/her with her friends, family, employers and coworkers, or even to the public. This is commonly known as “revenge porn.”
Revenge porn is defined as distributing sexually illicit photos or videos of a person without his/her consent. Additionally, this type of offense may involve manipulation, such as intimidating a person to ensure he/she stays in the relationship.
In June 2015, Texas passed its own revenge-porn law, which made sharing intimate photos of a partner without their consent a Class A misdemeanor, which carries a maximum jail sentence of one year and a fine of up to $4,000. However, critics opposed the law because they claim it was unconstitutional because it infringed on free speech.
In April 2018, the 12th Court of Appeals agreed that the law was constitutional. Then in May 2019, the Texas Senate unanimously voted to modify the statute to include having the intent to harm the person on the images.
Since revenge porn is also recognized as sexual harassment, the person on the images can also file a lawsuit against the alleged offender in civil court. A defendant can be held liable for damages of up to $1,000 for each violation, $500 for each unintentional violation, damages associated with mental suffering, as well as court costs and legal fees.
If you or a loved one has been accused of a sex crime in Plano or Forth Worth, contact Zendeh Del Law Firm, PLLC at 888-4-ZEN-LAW to discuss your case. Get 50+ years of collective experience on your side!