{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/18.2-59.1.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/18.2-59.1.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/18.2-59.1.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/18.2-59.1.html"}],"law_id":59217,"edition_id":1,"section_id":59217,"structure_id":13516,"section_number":"18.2-59.1","catch_line":"Sexual extortion; penalty","history":"2023, c. 612; 2025, c. 227.","full_text":"A\n\nAny person who maliciously threatens in writing, including an electronically transmitted communication producing a visual or electronic message, (i) to disseminate, sell, or publish a videographic or still image, created by any means whatsoever, or (ii) to not delete, remove, or take back a previously disseminated, sold, or published videographic or still image, created by any means whatsoever, that depicts the complaining witness or such complaining witness’s family or household member, as defined in § 16.1-228, as totally nude or in a state of undress so as to expose the genitals, pubic area, buttocks, or female breast with the intent to cause the complaining witness to engage in sexual intercourse, cunnilingus, fellatio, anilingus, anal intercourse, inanimate or animate object sexual penetration, or an act of sexual abuse, as defined in § 18.2-67.10, and thereby engages in sexual intercourse, cunnilingus, fellatio, anilingus, anal intercourse, inanimate or animate object sexual penetration, or an act of sexual abuse, as defined in § 18.2-67.10, is guilty of a Class 5 felony. However, any adult who violates this section with a person under the age of 18 is guilty of a felony punishable by confinement in a state correctional facility for a term of not less than one nor more than 20 years and by a fine of not more than $100,000.B\n\nAny person who maliciously threatens eviction, loss of housing, property damage, or any financial loss with the intent to cause the complaining witness to engage in sexual intercourse, cunnilingus, fellatio, anilingus, anal intercourse, inanimate or animate object sexual penetration, or an act of sexual abuse, as defined in § 18.2-67.10, and thereby engages in sexual intercourse, cunnilingus, fellatio, anilingus, anal intercourse, inanimate or animate object sexual penetration, or an act of sexual abuse, as defined in § 18.2-67.10, is guilty of a Class 5 felony. However, any adult who violates this section with a person under the age of 15 is guilty of a felony punishable by confinement in a state correctional facility for a term of not less than one nor more than 20 years and by a fine of not more than $100,000.C\n\nA prosecution pursuant to this section may be in the county, city, or town in which the communication was either made or received.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":217072,"text":"Any person who maliciously threatens in writing, including an electronically transmitted communication producing a visual or electronic message, (i) to disseminate, sell, or publish a videographic or still image, created by any means whatsoever, or (ii) to not delete, remove, or take back a previously disseminated, sold, or published videographic or still image, created by any means whatsoever, that depicts the complaining witness or such complaining witness’s family or household member, as defined in § 16.1-228, as totally nude or in a state of undress so as to expose the genitals, pubic area, buttocks, or female breast with the intent to cause the complaining witness to engage in sexual intercourse, cunnilingus, fellatio, anilingus, anal intercourse, inanimate or animate object sexual penetration, or an act of sexual abuse, as defined in § 18.2-67.10, and thereby engages in sexual intercourse, cunnilingus, fellatio, anilingus, anal intercourse, inanimate or animate object sexual penetration, or an act of sexual abuse, as defined in § 18.2-67.10, is guilty of a Class 5 felony. However, any adult who violates this section with a person under the age of 18 is guilty of a felony punishable by confinement in a state correctional facility for a term of not less than one nor more than 20 years and by a fine of not more than $100,000.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":217073,"text":"Any person who maliciously threatens eviction, loss of housing, property damage, or any financial loss with the intent to cause the complaining witness to engage in sexual intercourse, cunnilingus, fellatio, anilingus, anal intercourse, inanimate or animate object sexual penetration, or an act of sexual abuse, as defined in § 18.2-67.10, and thereby engages in sexual intercourse, cunnilingus, fellatio, anilingus, anal intercourse, inanimate or animate object sexual penetration, or an act of sexual abuse, as defined in § 18.2-67.10, is guilty of a Class 5 felony. However, any adult who violates this section with a person under the age of 15 is guilty of a felony punishable by confinement in a state correctional facility for a term of not less than one nor more than 20 years and by a fine of not more than $100,000.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"C"},"2":{"id":217074,"text":"A prosecution pursuant to this section may be in the county, city, or town in which the communication was either made or received.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B"}},"ancestry":[{"id":13516,"edition_id":1,"name":"Extortion and Other Threats","identifier":"6","label":"article","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13100,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:45:07","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:45:07","permalink":{"id":165091,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13516,"identifier":"6","token":"18.2\/4\/6","url":"\/18.2\/4\/6\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":13100,"edition_id":1,"name":"Crimes Against the Person","identifier":"4","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12972,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:17","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:17","permalink":{"id":164763,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13100,"identifier":"4","token":"18.2\/4","url":"\/18.2\/4\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12972,"edition_id":1,"name":"Crimes and Offenses Generally","identifier":"18.2","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:05","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:05","permalink":{"id":164139,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12972,"identifier":"18.2","token":"18.2","url":"\/18.2\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":72142,"structure_id":13516,"section_number":"18.2-59","catch_line":"Extortion of money, property or pecuniary benefit","url":"\/18.2-59\/","token":"18.2\/4\/6\/18.2-59","metadata":false},{"id":59217,"structure_id":13516,"section_number":"18.2-59.1","catch_line":"Sexual extortion; penalty","url":"\/18.2-59.1\/","token":"18.2\/4\/6\/18.2-59.1","metadata":false},{"id":70858,"structure_id":13516,"section_number":"18.2-60","catch_line":"Threats of death or bodily injury to a person or member of his family; threats of death or discharge of a firearm on school property; threats of death or bodily injury to health care providers; penalties","url":"\/18.2-60\/","token":"18.2\/4\/6\/18.2-60","metadata":false},{"id":66281,"structure_id":13516,"section_number":"18.2-60.1","catch_line":"Threatening the Governor or his immediate family","url":"\/18.2-60.1\/","token":"18.2\/4\/6\/18.2-60.1","metadata":false},{"id":62513,"structure_id":13516,"section_number":"18.2-60.2","catch_line":"Members of the Governor's immediate family","url":"\/18.2-60.2\/","token":"18.2\/4\/6\/18.2-60.2","metadata":false},{"id":54485,"structure_id":13516,"section_number":"18.2-60.3","catch_line":"Stalking; penalty","url":"\/18.2-60.3\/","token":"18.2\/4\/6\/18.2-60.3","metadata":false},{"id":86834,"structure_id":13516,"section_number":"18.2-60.4","catch_line":"Violation of protective orders; penalty","url":"\/18.2-60.4\/","token":"18.2\/4\/6\/18.2-60.4","metadata":false},{"id":68255,"structure_id":13516,"section_number":"18.2-60.5","catch_line":"Unauthorized use of electronic tracking device; penalty","url":"\/18.2-60.5\/","token":"18.2\/4\/6\/18.2-60.5","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":72142,"structure_id":13516,"section_number":"18.2-59","catch_line":"Extortion of money, property or pecuniary benefit","url":"\/18.2-59\/","token":"18.2\/4\/6\/18.2-59","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":70858,"structure_id":13516,"section_number":"18.2-60","catch_line":"Threats of death or bodily injury to a person or member of his family; threats of death or discharge of a firearm on school property; threats of death or bodily injury to health care providers; penalties","url":"\/18.2-60\/","token":"18.2\/4\/6\/18.2-60","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/18.2-59.1\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 2023. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 612<\/a> of that year\u2019s edition of \u201cActs of Assembly,\u201d the annual state publication listing all changes made to the Code of Virginia in that year. It has been modified 1 time. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. That modification is as follows: in 2025, chapter 227<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":74660,"section_number":"19.2-392.12","catch_line":"(Effective July 1, 2026) Sealing of offenses resulting in a deferred and dismissed disposition or conviction by petition","order_by":null,"url":"\/19.2-392.12\/"}],"refers_to":[{"id":63788,"section_number":"16.1-228","catch_line":"Definitions","order_by":null,"url":"\/16.1-228\/"},{"id":77985,"section_number":"18.2-67.10","catch_line":"General definitions","order_by":null,"url":"\/18.2-67.10\/"}],"permalink":{"id":165097,"object_type":"law","relational_id":59217,"identifier":"18.2-59.1","token":"18.2\/4\/6\/18.2-59.1","url":"\/18.2-59.1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/18.2-59.1\/","token":"18.2\/4\/6\/18.2-59.1","dublin_core":{"Title":"Sexual extortion; penalty","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 18.2-59.1","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> Any person who maliciously threatens in writing, including an electronically transmitted communication producing a visual or electronic message, (i) to disseminate, sell, or publish a videographic or still image, created by any means whatsoever, or (ii) to not delete, remove, or take back a previously disseminated, sold, or published videographic or still image, created by any means whatsoever, that depicts the complaining witness<\/span> or such complaining witness<\/span>’s family or household member, as defined in § 16.1-228<\/a>, as totally nude or in a state of undress so as to expose the genitals, pubic area, buttocks, or female breast with the intent<\/span> to cause the complaining witness<\/span> to engage in sexual intercourse, cunnilingus, fellatio, anilingus, anal intercourse, inanimate or animate object<\/span> sexual penetration, or an act of sexual abuse, as defined in § 18.2-67.10<\/a>, and thereby engages in sexual intercourse, cunnilingus, fellatio, anilingus, anal intercourse, inanimate or animate object<\/span> sexual penetration, or an act of sexual abuse, as defined in § 18.2-67.10<\/a>, is guilty of a Class 5 felony<\/span>. However, any adult who violates this section with a person under the age of 18 is guilty of a felony<\/span> punishable by confinement in a state correctional facility for a term of not less than one nor more than 20 years and by a fine of not more than $100,000. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> Any person who maliciously threatens eviction, loss of housing, property damage, or any financial loss with the intent<\/span> to cause the complaining witness<\/span> to engage in sexual intercourse, cunnilingus, fellatio, anilingus, anal intercourse, inanimate or animate object<\/span> sexual penetration, or an act of sexual abuse, as defined in § 18.2-67.10<\/a>, and thereby engages in sexual intercourse, cunnilingus, fellatio, anilingus, anal intercourse, inanimate or animate object<\/span> sexual penetration, or an act of sexual abuse, as defined in § 18.2-67.10<\/a>, is guilty of a Class 5 felony<\/span>. However, any adult who violates this section with a person under the age of 15 is guilty of a felony<\/span> punishable by confinement in a state correctional facility for a term of not less than one nor more than 20 years and by a fine of not more than $100,000. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> A prosecution<\/span> pursuant to this section may be in the county, city, or town in which the communication was either made or received. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nSEXUAL EXTORTION; PENALTY (\u00a7 18.2-59.1)\n\nA. Any person who maliciously threatens in writing, including an electronically\ntransmitted communication producing a visual or electronic message, (i) to\ndisseminate, sell, or publish a videographic or still image, created by any\nmeans whatsoever, or (ii) to not delete, remove, or take back a previously\ndisseminated, sold, or published videographic or still image, created by any\nmeans whatsoever, that depicts the complaining witness or such complaining\nwitness’s family or household member, as defined in § 16.1-228, as\ntotally nude or in a state of undress so as to expose the genitals, pubic area,\nbuttocks, or female breast with the intent to cause the complaining witness to\nengage in sexual intercourse, cunnilingus, fellatio, anilingus, anal\nintercourse, inanimate or animate object sexual penetration, or an act of sexual\nabuse, as defined in § 18.2-67.10, and thereby engages in sexual\nintercourse, cunnilingus, fellatio, anilingus, anal intercourse, inanimate or\nanimate object sexual penetration, or an act of sexual abuse, as defined in\n§ 18.2-67.10, is guilty of a Class 5 felony. However, any adult who\nviolates this section with a person under the age of 18 is guilty of a felony\npunishable by confinement in a state correctional facility for a term of not\nless than one nor more than 20 years and by a fine of not more than $100,000.\n\nB. Any person who maliciously threatens eviction, loss of housing, property\ndamage, or any financial loss with the intent to cause the complaining witness\nto engage in sexual intercourse, cunnilingus, fellatio, anilingus, anal\nintercourse, inanimate or animate object sexual penetration, or an act of sexual\nabuse, as defined in § 18.2-67.10, and thereby engages in sexual\nintercourse, cunnilingus, fellatio, anilingus, anal intercourse, inanimate or\nanimate object sexual penetration, or an act of sexual abuse, as defined in\n§ 18.2-67.10, is guilty of a Class 5 felony. However, any adult who\nviolates this section with a person under the age of 15 is guilty of a felony\npunishable by confinement in a state correctional facility for a term of not\nless than one nor more than 20 years and by a fine of not more than $100,000.\n\nC. A prosecution pursuant to this section may be in the county, city, or town in\nwhich the communication was either made or received.\n\nHISTORY: 2023, c. 612; 2025, c. 227.","edition":{"id":1,"name":"2025","slug":"2025","date_created":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","date_modified":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","current":1,"order_by":1,"last_import":null}}