The legal deadline for sexual extortion is now set at five years, while stalking now has a 10-year limitation. By contrast, there is no time bar for revenge porn, allowing prosecutions to move forward at any time. The previous statute of limitations for revenge porn was two years.
These moves reflect a growing recognition of the long-lasting harm caused by these types of offenses, particularly revenge porn. The enhanced statute of limitations allows victims more time to come forward.
Revenge porn is the distribution of intimate or sexually explicit images or videos of individuals without their consent. Maryland law specifically addresses this issue under its criminal code. Maryland Criminal Law Code Sec. 3-809 forbids the intentional distribution of visual private representations that expose intimate body parts or show sexual activity when done to harm, harass, intimidate, threaten, or coerce the person depicted. Revenge porn is a misdemeanor in Maryland.
The law was enacted in 2014 to protect individuals' privacy and prevent the harm caused by the unauthorized sharing of private images.
This illegal content is often posted online by ex-partners or hackers aiming to emotionally harm and humiliate the person depicted. Maryland isn’t the only state to outlaw revenge porn. Nearly all of the states have laws on the books criminalizing nonconsensual pornographic content sharing.
The attorneys at Maronick Law LLC have experience with Annapolis, Baltimore, Essex, Ocean City, Towson, White Marsh revenge porn, stalking and sexual extortion matters. An Ocean City sex crimes lawyer can review your case for defenses and an opportunity to plea bargain or get your Maryland sex crime charges reduced.
Maronick Law LLC can meet with you remotely if you have access to Zoom. You can contact the law office at 410.244.5068 or our website for a free consultation.