The bill amends West Virginia's Code to enhance the legal framework surrounding extortion, specifically focusing on sexual extortion and aggravated sexual extortion. It introduces a new section, 61-8B-6, which defines key terms such as "private image," "minor," and "vulnerable adult," and establishes the offenses of sexual extortion and aggravated sexual extortion. Sexual extortion is defined as the act of threatening to disclose a private image to compel a victim to act against their will, with penalties ranging from one to twenty years in prison depending on the number of offenses. Aggravated sexual extortion is defined similarly but includes additional criteria, such as the victim being a minor or vulnerable adult, or if serious bodily injury or death results from the act.

The bill also modifies existing laws regarding extortion by including threats to obtain "any other thing of value" and increases penalties for extortion and attempted extortion. It allows circuit courts to impose specific conditions, such as behavioral health counseling, for minors adjudicated for sexual extortion offenses. Furthermore, it clarifies that prosecutions for these offenses can occur in the county where the threat was made or received, thereby providing a more comprehensive approach to addressing these serious crimes.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 61-8B-6
Committee Substitute: 61-2-13, 61-8B-6
Enrolled Committee Substitute: 61-2-13, 61-8B-6