Pasadena divorce lawyers have seen the stress of ending a marriage cause people to do things they wouldn't otherwise even consider. One particularly problematic tactic angry exes use is revenge porn -- nude photos published without consent.
California is leading the nation in cracking down on this type of crime, as evidenced by the recent conviction of Noe Iniguez, 36, of Los Angeles. Iniguez is the first person in the state convicted under the revenge porn law. He was sentenced to one year in jail and 36 months probation, as well as mandatory domestic violence counseling.
Iniguez posted nude photos of his ex-girlfriend on her employer's Facebook page, as well as several derogatory comments attacking her character and urging her employer to terminate her position.
California's law makes it an offense to take intimate and confidential photos or videos and distribute them in a way designed to purposefully cause serious emotional distress to the victim. The law does not apply to recording the victim made by him/herself, nor does it penalize those who redistributed the recording.
Although many people have criticized California's statute as being too lenient, it should be noted that revenge porn can also be prosecuted under other types of laws. For example, hacking is already a crime and copyright law penalizes anyone who distributes "selfies" without the consent of the person who made the recording. Anti-stalking and anti-harassment laws may also be applicable.
If you are the victim of a revenge porn attack, it is crucial to discuss this issue with your divorce attorney. Do not try to solve the issue yourself by paying a webmaster fees to remove the offensive photos. This is a common scam tactic created to blackmail the humiliated victims of this distasteful crime.
How Can We Help?
Please call our office at (626) 683-8113 or email us at info@PasadenaLawOffice.com if you have questions about California's divorce process. Our Pasadena divorce law firm is eager to advocate for your needs within the state's legal system.