CHARLESTON, WV — A new bill introduced in the West Virginia Legislature seeks to modernize state law by addressing sexual extortion in both digital and professional settings. Senate Bill 240, sponsored by Sen. Bill Hamilton (R-Upshur), aims to ensure that offenses involving threats related to intimate images or workplace coercion carry penalties similar to financial extortion.
The legislation has drawn attention for its focus on protecting individuals from exploitation. According to the West Virginia Foundation for Rape Information and Services (WVFRIS), the bill would allow for extortion charges in cases where someone threatens to share intimate images or when a workplace superior pressures an employee into sexual acts under the threat of job insecurity.
The proposed law also introduces stricter penalties for cases involving minors and situations where extortion results in injury or death, including suicide. Offenders in the most severe cases could face up to 20 years in prison. Additionally, the bill explicitly includes threats of disclosing intimate images within the definition of extortion, addressing the increasing prevalence of digital exploitation.
Sen. Hamilton’s initiative has been met with support from advocacy groups who see it as a necessary update to existing laws. As the bill moves through the legislative process, it is expected to prompt discussions on how best to combat modern forms of exploitation and protect victims from coercion and abuse.
The bill passed the West Virginia Senate with overwhelming bipartisan support, receiving a unanimous 32-0 vote. The unanimous passage reflects a shared commitment to ensuring that individuals who engage in such offenses face appropriate legal consequences.
