Senate Bill 222 introduces a new crime known as "sexual extortion" and establishes penalties for such offenses. Under this bill, it is classified as a Class I felony for an individual to threaten to harm another's property or reputation, commit violence, or distribute intimate representations to coerce someone into sexual conduct or to provide something of value. The bill escalates the offense to a Class H felony if the victim engages in sexual conduct or suffers great bodily harm as a result of the violation, or if the victim is under 18 and the defendant is not more than four years older. Additionally, it can be classified as a Class G felony under certain circumstances, such as if the defendant has a prior conviction for a sexually violent offense or if the victim is significantly younger than the defendant.

The bill also allows for crime victims or their family members to receive compensation from the Department of Justice's crime victim compensation fund if they are injured or die as a result of extortion or sexual extortion. It includes provisions for compensation related to suicide or attempted suicide if the crime was a substantial factor in those actions. The bill amends various sections of current law to incorporate the new crime and its associated penalties, including the creation of a new statute, 942.095, specifically addressing sexual extortion.

Statutes affected:
Bill Text: 48.685(1)(c)2, 48.685, 48.686(1)(c)1, 48.686, 51.20(13)(ct)1m.a, 51.20, 51.20(13)(ct)1m.b, 115.31(2g)(c)1, 115.31, 115.31(2r)(c)3, 301.45(1p)(b), 301.45, 901.08(1)(b), 901.08, 938.34(15m)(am)1, 938.34, 938.34(15m)(am)2, 938.345(3)(d), 938.345, 940.03