Kentucky Criminalizes “Revenge Porn” Under KRS 531.120
Kentucky’s 2018 revenge porn statute, KRS 531.120, makes it a crime to distribute sexually explicit images of another person without consent. Whether your case is in Louisville, Lexington, or anywhere in Kentucky, revenge porn charges carry significant penalties and permanent reputational consequences. Clark + Harris defends these sensitive cases with experience and discretion.
Kentucky’s Revenge Porn Statute
Under KRS 531.120, a person commits the offense of distributing sexually explicit images without consent when they intentionally distribute a sexually explicit image of another person, knowing the depicted person didn’t consent to distribution, when the depicted person had a reasonable expectation of privacy in the image, and when the distribution causes serious emotional distress to the depicted person. The offense is a Class A misdemeanor for a first offense and a Class D felony for subsequent offenses or when the images involve minors.
Related Federal Charges
Revenge porn cases can also result in federal charges when interstate communications are involved, when the subject is a minor (triggering child pornography laws), or when cyberstalking elements are present. Federal charges can carry significantly more severe penalties than the Kentucky state charge.
Defending Revenge Porn Cases
Defense strategies include challenging the consent element (did the depicted person actually consent to distribution?), challenging the privacy expectation element (were the images originally created in a context where privacy was reasonable?), identification defenses when the distribution can’t clearly be attributed to the defendant, constitutional First Amendment challenges in appropriate cases, and factual disputes about the circumstances of the alleged distribution.
Digital evidence — account access, IP addresses, metadata — is central in these cases and requires careful examination. Multiple people sometimes have access to accounts used for distribution, creating identification defenses.
Contact Clark + Harris for Revenge Porn Defense
Revenge porn charges demand discreet, experienced defense. Clark + Harris represents clients throughout Lexington, Louisville, and across Kentucky.
Call 859-474-0001 today for a confidential consultation.
Frequently Asked Questions
How soon should I contact Clark + Harris after being charged in Kentucky?
As soon as possible. Early representation protects your rights during questioning, preserves evidence, and often leads to better outcomes. Call 859-474-0001 — we respond promptly to new inquiries.
Does Clark + Harris represent clients throughout Kentucky?
Yes. We represent clients in all 120 Kentucky counties, both state District and Circuit courts, and federal courts in the Eastern and Western Districts of Kentucky.
What happens during a free consultation with Clark + Harris?
We review the specific charges and evidence, discuss available defenses, explain the likely process in the relevant court, and give you a clear roadmap of next steps — at no cost to you.
Related Resources
If this information applied to your situation, the following Clark + Harris guides may also be helpful:
- Sex Offenses and Immigration Consequences
- Federal Child Pornography Possession Defense (18 U.S.C. § 2252)
- Federal Production of Child Pornography Charges (18 U.S.C. § 2251)
- Kentucky Sex Offender Registration: Understanding the Requirements
- Kentucky Sexual Abuse Defense