Legal Review: Victim of Revenge Porn Arrested after Confronting Ex-Boyfriend

Attorney Seth Okin is an accomplished criminal lawyer that practices in the state of Maryland. Attorney Okin is also a member of the Maryland State Bar Association and the Baltimore County Bar Association.

An 18-year-old Newnan teenager said she feels victimized a second time after being arrested for confronting her ex-boyfriend after he leaked a nude video of her.

The young woman said she confronted her ex-boyfriend at school after he posted the video of her on the social media site Kik. A teacher at the school allegedly witnessed the argument and told police that the young woman threw a bottle of water on him and threatened to kill him because of what he had done.

Police turned around and arrested the girl. She told local media that the video made her feel violated and that was why she confronted her ex-boyfriend and is even more upset that she is the only one being charged with a crime. This despite the fact that Georgia has a revenge porn law on its books.

The law, which went into effect in July 2014, allows law enforcement to charge someone with a high and aggravated misdemeanor for their first offense. Second and subsequent offenses can be charged as felonies.

When asked why the person who posted the video has not been charged with anything, Deputy Chief Rodney Riggs said, “Obviously there was a disruption there at the school she attended, and that was the only charge that has been made at this point.

The fact that some photographs were sent doesn’t necessarily constitute a crime. There are certain criteria in sending that photograph that has to be met and that’s what we’re trying to determine.”

Upon hearing about this case, attorney Seth Okin commented, “I find it outrageous that the police have essentially violated this young woman a second time, arresting her, putting her in handcuffs, and forcing her into the criminal justice system as a defendant, instead of as the victim.”