Filming Your Sexual Escapade Can Lead to Prison—and College Students Are Not Exempt

We live in an age when virtually every person over 15 has a handheld camera in their pocket at all times. This fact exposes the risk that people will record events they probably shouldn’t, including their own sexual exploits. What many young people don’t know, though, is that a recording of one’s own escapades can be more than problematic—it can be a ticket to prison.

If you or a loved one faces a criminal charge resulting from a non-consensual recording of an intimate encounter, call the LLF Law Firm Criminal Defense Team today at 888-535-3686 or contact us online to discuss your defense.

Former University of Delaware Student Plays Amateur Cinematographer, Pays the Price

Today’s young adults grew up during a time when online pornography was easily accessible and, in many circles, destigmatized. This helps us understand how those young people might not think twice about recording sexual acts, as one former University of Delaware student did.

That student, Christofer Miedreich, used his cellphone to record his encounter with a woman who, the case eventually revealed, did not know he was recording. Though the woman agreed that the encounter was consensual, she later contended that the recording was not.

Miedreich committed a crime—in this case, invasion of privacy—by merely recording the intercourse. When Miedreich then showed the video to his friends, he committed a second invasion-of-privacy offense.

The University of Delaware Student Got Off Relatively Easily. Not Everyone Accused of Illegal Recording Does.

Rumors of the non-consensual sex tape eventually circulated around campus and back to the victim. She eventually reported her concerns to the University of Delaware police, and a criminal complaint was opened.

Miedreich would eventually consent to the surreptitious recording. He was initially charged with two felony counts of invasion of privacy. However, Miedreich (presumably with the help of a capable attorney) secured a deal in which he would complete probation. Had he violated the terms of probation, he would have faced a misdemeanor harassment charge.

Considering that Miedreich could have been convicted of multiple felonies, the imposition of probation (which could lead to the dismissal of charges if completed without a violation) constitutes getting off easy. Not everyone who commits the offense that Miedriech did is so fortunate.

Even Consensual Recordings Might Lead to Serious Legal Issues

Bedroom recordings are generally not a good idea. This is particularly true when one or more parties involved in the recording are unaware that they are being recorded. However, there are circumstances in which even consensual recordings might lead to charges such as:

• Invasion of privacy
• Revenge porn
• Unlawful dissemination of an intimate image
• Criminal use of a communication facility
• Wiretapping, which might stem from any communications captured in the recording
• Harassment

Parties may provide consent only to change their minds or later deny that they consented. This is just one of several developments that might lead to you or a loved one being charged for capturing an intimate recording.

If you need representation in the face of criminal charges stemming from a sexual recording, call the LLF Law Firm Criminal Defense Team today at 888-535-3686 or contact us online.