The Vermont Statutes Online

Title 13 : Crimes and Criminal Procedure

Chapter 059 : Lewdness and Prostitution

Subchapter 001 : Lewd and Indecent Conduct

• § 2607. Sexual extortion

  (a) As used in this section:

  (1) “Nude” has the same meaning as in section 2606 of this title.

  (2) “Serious bodily injury” has the same meaning as in section 1021 of this title.

  (3) “Sexual conduct” has the same meaning as in section 2821 of this title.

  (4) “Visual image” has the same meaning as is section 2606 of this title.

  (b) No person shall knowingly threaten to disclose a visual image of an identifiable person who is nude or who is engaged in sexual conduct, without the person’s consent, with the intent to compel a person to:

  (1) produce nude images or images of sexual conduct;

  (2) engage in sexual conduct;

  (3) engage in any act against the person’s will;

  (4) refrain from engaging in any act in which the person has a legal right to engage; or

  (5) provide money or anything of value.

  (c) With the intent to compel a person to produce nude visual images or visual images of sexual conduct or to engage in sexual conduct, no person shall knowingly threaten to:

  (1) accuse a person of a crime or cause criminal charges to be instituted against a person;

  (2) cause injury to a person or property;

  (3) expose or publicize an asserted fact, whether true or false, intending to subject another person to hatred, contempt, or ridicule; or

  (4) report a person’s immigration status or suspected immigration status.

  (d)(1) A person who violates this section shall be imprisoned not more than three years or fined not more than $3,000.00, or both, if the victim of the offense is 18 years of age or older.

  (2) A person who violates this section shall be imprisoned not more than 10 years or fined not more than $10,000.00, or both, if the victim of the offense is under 18 years of age.

  (3) If serious bodily injury or death results from a violation of this section, the person convicted of the violation shall be imprisoned not more than 15 years or fined not more $15,000.00, or both.

  (e) A person who, in good faith and in a timely manner, reports to law enforcement that the person is a victim of a violation of this section shall not be cited, arrested, or prosecuted for a violation of section 2802 (disseminating indecent material to a minor in the presence of the minor), 2802a (disseminating indecent material to a minor outside the presence of the minor), or 2802b (minor electronically disseminating indecent material to another person) of this title.

  (f) The immunity provisions of this section apply only to the use and derivative use of evidence gained as a proximate result of the person reporting to law enforcement that the person is a victim of a violation of this section and do not preclude prosecution of the person on the basis of evidence obtained from an independent source. (Added 2025, No. 89 (Adj. Sess.), § 3, eff. July 1, 2026.)