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House passes ‘revenge porn’ bill

By ANDREA LANNOM

The Register-Herald

CHARLESTON, W.Va.  — The West Virginia House unanimously passed a bill that would make it a crime to distribute sexual images without consent.

The measure has been referred to as the “revenge porn” bill.

Under Senate Bill 240, a person convicted on a first offense would be guilty of a misdemeanor and face up to a year in jail and a $1,000 to $5,000 fine. For a second violation, a person could be charged with a felony and sentenced up to three years in prison and fined $2,500 to $10,000.

Delegate John Shott, R-Mercer, said the bill makes it a crime for a person to knowingly and intentionally distribute a private image without consent.

Intent, he said, would mean that the person wanted to harass, intimidate, embarrass, coerce or profit from the image.

The bill passed in a 96-0 vote.

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