Legal Expert Says Revenge Porn Causes Traumatic Event

August 6, 2018

The recent events involving the resignation of first-term Illinois Republican State Representative Nick Sauer amid allegations that he posted nude pictures of his ex-girlfriend on a phony social media account that used her real name has serious implications. Not only is Sauer facing possible criminal charges, but Chicago legal expert Daliah Saper, who is an advocate of victims of revenge porn makes a plea for the courts to consider additional injuries from such a crime. Saper even cites how one woman was so disgraced by the ordeal that she had to change her last name and move to a different city in order to cope with the humiliation she experienced.

“It’s incredibly traumatic,” Saper said of revenge porn. “Most individuals hide. They try to remove any trace of themselves from the Internet. They’re concerned about going to public events. They don’t know what people have seen so they’d rather avoid everybody.”¹

What Is Revenge Porn And How Did The Perpetrator Use It In This Case

Legal Expert Says Revenge Porn Causes Traumatic Event | Westminster Criminal Defense Attorney

In this section, we’ll take a look at the crime of revenge porn and discuss how one state legislator tried to use it to harm his ex-girlfriend:

• Revenge porn or revenge pornography is the distribution of sexually explicit images or video of individuals without their consent, according to Wikipedia.
• There are more than 40 states that have passed revenge porn laws.²
• Revenge porn is a Class 4 felony in Illinois.
• Nick Sauer didn’t even get through his first term in the state legislature before the revenge porn issue came to light and caused him to resign his seat.
• According to police, Sauer set up a fake account on Instagram under the woman’s name, then posted nude photos of her to trick males into having discreet conversations.
• The woman filed complaints with the Chicago police department and the state’s legislative inspector general.
• The victim admits she entered into a long-distance relationship with Sauer in 2016 after hooking up using the app Tinder.
• The victim claims another man contacted her telling her that he had been in communication on social media for several months with someone pretending to be the woman.
• Currently, there have been no charges filed.
• Revenge porn in Illinois is considered a felony, and carries a penalty of up to three years in prison, and a $25,000 fine.
• Ironically, Sauer sat on an “anti-sexual harassment panel” formed after the #MeToo movement.

How Does Revenge Porn Affect Victims?

Most victims of revenge porn say there’s really no area of their life not affected by this sort of crime. Here are some comments from some of the victims themselves:³

• Victims of revenge porn usually find out about the revenge porn photos of themselves put up on the Internet from other friends, family members, and sometimes complete strangers.
• Learning about nude photos posted online from others causes exteme humiliation victims say.
• Victims describe the moment of learning about the nude photos of themselves having gone public as a blow, like being hit and knocked down. One said, “…it felt just like I was getting hit with a baseball bat.”
• Many claim friends and family turn their back on them for being immoral.
• Many victims end up losing their jobs, positions on sporting teams, and other memberships for violating ethics codes.

Most victims have to wait lengthy periods of time to seek justice for revenge crimes, so a lot of them weigh whether the fight will be worth the time and money they’ll have to spend on court and for attorneys.

Contact a Westminster Criminal Defense Attorney at the Griffin Law Firm

Have you been charged with revenge porn, sexual assault, or any other kind of misdemeanor or felony related to sexual harassment? A criminal charge of this kind can not only impact your sense of welfare, but it could mean the loss of a job, destroy your marriage, and may even force you to spend time in jail.

If you need an advocate that will fight for your rights, call the Westminster Criminal Defense Attorney at Griffin Law Firm right away for superior and aggressive representation. Call us today at (303) 963-9297 or email us using the contact form on this page, to schedule a free, no-obligation initial consultation.

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¹“Revenge Porn: ‘It’s Incredibly Traumatic,’ Says Chicago Lawyer” published in CBS Chicago News 2, Aug. 2018.

²“Illinois Lawmaker Nick Sauer Quits Amid Revenge Porn Allegations” published in CBS News, Aug. 2018.

³“Chrissy Chambers: Revenge Porn Almost Killed Me” published in BBC News, Jan. 2018.

Categories: Criminal Defense News, Revenge Porn Crimes