A man who posted explicit pictures of his ex-girlfriend on the internet without her consent pleaded guilty to the crime in Monongalia County Magistrate Court on Wednesday.
Magistrate Sandy Holepit accepted the guilty plea to nonconsensual disclosure of private intimate images by Jonathan Massie, 19.
After the victim ended their relationship, Massie accessed her social media accounts and downloaded photos he took of her engaged in sexually explicit conduct. He then posted the pictures online.
Assistant Prosecutor Rob Zak said the victim was OK with the plea and her priority was prohibiting Massie from contacting her for as long as possible.
To facilitate that, the state will recommend Massie serve two years of unsupervised probation during which time he is not allowed to have direct or indirect contact with the victim or her family.
The plea agreement also requires Massie to serve 50 hours of community service for a non-profit organization and pay court costs. He also must complete a needs risk assessment with the day report office and follow its recommendations, if any.
The maximum possible punishment for the first conviction of nonconsensual disclosure of private images is up to a year in jail and/or a $1,000-$5,000 fine. A second offense is a felony punishable by up to three years in prison and/or a $2,500-$10,000 fine.
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