Most people have heard the phrase “sexting” by now, but they may not have a complete understanding of what it means and how it can get somebody in trouble with the law. “Sexting” is a combination of the words “sex” and “texting,” and has become something that happens across age groups. Generally, this refers to the sending and receiving of sexually explicit messages from person to person through electronic means. At Okabe & Haushalter, we know that sexting can often result in sex crimes or child pornography charges, and we are here to help if you are facing allegations of these crimes. Let our Los Angeles child pornography attorneys help with your case today.
How can sexting become illegal in California?
There are various ways in which sexting can become illegal, including the following:
Distribution without Permission: The phrase for this is “revenge porn,” and this occurs when someone who has received explicit photographs from another person proceeds to share them or distribute them without that person’s permission.
Child Pornography or Exposing a Minor to Explicit Material: Sexting involving underage children is almost always going to be illegal. If someone above the age of consent in California ends up with sexually explicit photos or videos of a minor, they could be charged with possession of child pornography. It is illegal for an adult to send sexually explicit images or videos to a minor or to solicit photographs or videos from a minor.
Harassment, Bullying, and Stalking: Sexting is commonly linked to cyberbullying, stalking, in harassing. It is illegal to use sexually explicit images or videos to harass, stalk, or bully anybody, whether that person is an adult or a minor.
Sexting in the Workplace: There are various laws in place to protect employees in the workplace from sexual harassment. Most employers have policies and training in place in order to prevent such behavior. If a worker receives unwanted sexual text messages, the person sending them could face various penalties, including disciplinary issues, getting fired, and even the possibility of criminal charges.
What are the penalties for sexting in California?
There could be various penalties a person could face for illegally sexting. These penalties will depend on the type of charges someone faces and will be significantly more severe for instances of child pornography. Some of the possible penalties of sexting can include:
Jail or prison time
Fines
Probation
Community service
Mandatory counseling
Possible requirement for the sex offender registry
Getting demoted, suspended, or terminated from your job
We are ready to help you through this
If you or somebody you care about is facing criminal charges due to sexting, please seek legal assistance immediately. At Okabe & Haushalter, our qualified and experienced team is going to get to work investigating the case against you. We will work to build a solid defense in order to get the charges produced or dismissed completely. When you need a Los Angeles child pornography attorney, you can contact us today by clicking here or calling 310-430-7799 for a free consultation.
