Recent Posts in Internet Crimes Category

As reported by Charles Wilson in the August 15, 2010 edition of the Providence Journal, the law is continuing to develop in light of new technology.  A new crime called "sextortion" has emerged, an off-shot of the crime of sexting.  "Sexting" is sending sexually explicit photographs or videos by minors through electronic means.  "Sextortion" is blackmailing people into sending sexually explicit photographs and/or videos.   This is a growing crime and has been reported in a dozen states. 

Common examples of sextortion include sending threatening e-mails or messages through Internet social websites such as MySpace or Facebook.  The consequences of sextortion can be severe.  In Wisconsin, a man posed as a girl on Facebook and was able to get male teenagers to send him nude photographs.  The man then used the photographs to extort the teens for sex.  He was sentenced to fifteen (15) years in jail. 

Sometimes, the extornists use photographs/videos already in existence for their extortion.  A group of three teenage girls in Indiana flashed their breasts in an Internet chat room through a webcam.  A man in Maryland then sent one of the girls e-mails threatening to post the images to her MySpace friends unless she gave him sexually explicit photographs and videos of herself.  She gave into his demands.  The man was eventually apprehended and was charged with sexual exploitation. 

The ability to reach countless people on the Internet and the multiple connections that people have to the Internet, allow extornists to access hundreds of people.  A man in California is alleged to have hacked into more than 200 computers.  He threatened to expose nude photos of the people, unless they created sexually explicit videos for him.  In addition, the man, through the use of technology, was able to remotely activate webcams of some of the people he was targeting.  He was then able to record them undressing and having sex.  Another man from Alabama was able to extort nude photographs from more than 50 different women, in three different states.  He was sentenced to eighteen years in prison.

If you or a family member has been charged with sexting, "sextortion" or other sex crimes please allow Attorney Robert H. Humphrey's reputation, experience and skill to successfully guide you through the legal process. Contact Robert H. Humphrey at 401-816-5862 or e-mail him at rhh@rhumphreylaw.com.

As reported by Talia Buford in the May 11, 2010 Providence Journal, sexting was the reason behind the fight between mother and daughter.  The fight escalated to the point where the 14 year old daughter stabbed her mother in the chest.  The 14 year old has been charged with assault with a deadly weapon and is being held at the Rhode Island Training School.  The girl's mother said her daughter has "sexted" before and she was trying to take away her daughter's cell phone when the fight broke out.

I am honored to have had the opportunity to present with Judge Hastings, Judge Houlihan, Attorney Kimberly Petta and Trooper Yelle the Rhode Island Law Day program at the Newport County Superior Court.  The Rhode Island Law Day program focused on the serious issues of Cyber-Bullying and the dangers of posting personal information on the Internet.  In attendance at the program were over seventy students from Thompson Middle School located in Newport, Rhode Island.  The Rhode Island Bar Association does an excellent job in presenting programs throughout the State for middle school and high school students to celebrate Law Day.  It is extremely beneficial for young people to understand our judicial system and to have an opportunity to discuss topics which are relevant to them.

If you or a family member has been charged with an Internet crime such as Cyber-Bullying or Sexting, which can lead to child pornography charges, please contact the Law Offices of Robert H. Humphrey.  Attorney Robert H. Humphrey is a recognized leader in the area of sex crimes and Internet-related crimes and his office serves all of Newport County (Newport, Middletown, Portsmouth, Tiverton, Little Compton), Washington County (Charlestown, Exeter, Hopkinton, Narragansett, New Shoreham, North Kingstown, Richmond, South Kingstown, Wakefield and Westerly),  Kent County (Coventry, East Greenwich, Warwick, West Greenwich and West Warwick), and Providence County (Burrillville, Central Falls, Cranston, Cumberland, East Providence, Foster, Glocester, Johnston, Lincoln, North Providence, North Smithfield, Pawtucket, Providence, Scituate, Smithfield and Woonsocket).  Please contact Attorney Robert H. Humphrey at 401-816-5862 or e-mail him at rhh@rhumphreylaw.com.

As reported by Talia Buford in the March 2, 2010 Providence Journal, a bill has been introduced at the General Assembly to protect minors engaged in "sexting."  Under current Rhode Island law, minors caught "sexting" can be prosecuted under the child pornography statute.  If convicted, minors would be labeled as a lifetime sex offender.  Under the proposed bill, minors caught sexting would be referred to Family Court and charged with a status offense.   If convicted, the minor would be treated with intervention and counseling instead of jail time.   On April 7, 2010, the House Committee on Judiciary held a hearing on the proposed sexting bill.

If you or a family member have been charged with a sex crime in Rhode Island, including sexting or other criminal offenses, please allow Attorney Robert H. Humphrey's reputation, experience and skill to successfully guide you through the legal process.  Contact Robert H. Humphrey at 401-816-5862 or e-mail him at rhh@rhumphreylaw.com.