Digital Blackmail and Sextortion Charges in Utah Explained

 Posted on October 24, 2025 in Sex crimes

Utah prosecutors are increasingly charging "sextortion" – the act of threatening to release intimate photos or videos unless a victim complies with demands – under overlapping laws. What begins as a private, online exchange can quickly escalate into serious felony allegations involving sexual extortion, coercion, and computer crimes.

Amendments to Utah Code Section 76-5b-204 recognize "digital control" as a form of abuse, treating online threats as psychological domination. If you are being charged with one or more of these crimes, you must understand how they are investigated and prosecuted. Consulting a Davis County, UT criminal defense lawyer provides you with a vigorous defense and the likelihood of the best possible outcome.  

What Is Sextortion Under Utah Law?

When one person threatens to publish or distribute a sexually explicit image or video of another person without consent, this is classified as sextortion. To prove the elements of the crime, there must have been a threat to distribute an image, the intent to obtain something of value or cause harm, and a lack of consent from the person in the image. In most cases, sextortion in Utah is classified as a third-degree felony.

What is Coercive Control?

Coercive control is often seen in domestic violence cases and involves control and domination through isolation, humiliation, and threats. Utah’s coercion and threat statutes now include non-physical intimidation, including digital communication and threats to another’s reputation. Coercive control may exist in romantic relationships, employer-employee or teacher-student relationships, or as a form of social media extortion ("Send me money or I will leak the images of you"). Coercion charges can be stacked with sextortion charges, potentially turning a single message into multiple felony counts.

Utah Differences Between Sextortion and Coercion/Online Threats

A person engaging in sextortion is threatening to distribute intimate or sexual images without consent, while a person engaging in coercion is using threats or intimidation to make another person act against his or her will. Sextortion requires an intent to cause emotional distress or control the victim, while coercion requires the intent to compel or restrain another’s actions.

Sextortion is usually done through texts, DMs, social-media posts, or cloud-stored images. Coercion is the same but can include in-person threats and online activity.  Sextortion is a third-degree felony, while coercion can range from a Class A misdemeanor to a third-degree felony, depending on the harm. The penalties for a third-degree felony include up to five years in prison and a maximum fine of $5,000.

How Are Sextortion Cases Built?

Sextortion cases generally start with a complaint from a victim to the police. From that point, social media accounts, email, texts, and cloud-storage data can be subpoenaed by digital forensics teams, along with chat logs, screenshots, metadata, and financial transactions. Some cases are joint federal and state investigations involving the FBI or Homeland Security. In some cases, undercover agents pose as victims during sting operations to secure charges.  

What Are Some of the Most Common Defenses to Sextortion?

Although the defenses to charges of sextortion or coercion will depend on the specific facts and circumstances, some of the most common defenses include:

• There was no intent to extort involved in the exchange.
• Both parties voluntarily exchanged images.
• The "threat to publish" may not satisfy the statute’s intent element if the sharing was mutual.
• The only proof of the defendant’s identity is an IP address, leaving significant reasonable doubt.
• There are First Amendment arguments because the "threats" can be considered expressive conduct.
• The screenshots are AI-generated, or metadata has been tampered with, posing challenges for electronic evidence.

Contact a Salt Lake City, UT Sex Crimes Lawyer

If you are facing allegations of sextortion, digital coercion, or online threat charges in Utah, you must act quickly. Consulting with an experienced Davis County, UT criminal defense attorney from Collins Rupp, P.C. is the best first step you can take. Our firm always has your back and goes the extra mile to ensure you have a comprehensive defense against your charges. Call 385-777-2753 to schedule your free consultation.