Nude-photo extortionist gets 9 months

CORNER BROOK, N.L. — A 22-yearold man who used nude photos to extort his ex-girlfriend has been sentenced to nine months in prison — a longer term than prosecutors had sought.

Kyle Stephen Hunt threatened to post nude photos of the woman, and photos of them having sex, to Facebook after she broke up with him.

Judge Wayne Gorman said he imposed a tougher sentence on Hunt because of the reach of social media, and the impact such extortion can have on victims.

“Mr. Hunt threatened to publicly release extremely intimate, personal and private photographs,” the Corner Brook, N.L., provincial court judge said in his ruling. “It must be appreciated that the threat to place them on Facebook adds an element of widespread public access which would not exist in other forms of extortion.”

The judge also banned Hunt from visiting his ex-girlfriend’s Facebook page, or posting anything about her on any socialmedia website.

Hunt, of Meadows, N.L., had threatened to post the photos unless his ex told her friends they had not separated and were trying to work things out.

He also threatened to kill himself.

She said she acquiesced to prevent Hunt from harming himself or posting the photos.

The Crown had sought a sixmonth term, while the defence asked for two to four months. But the judge said he needed to impose a sentence that would deter others from committing similar crimes.

“A present-day threat to release intimate photographs through social media sites allows for the sharing and dissemination of such photographs on a worldwide basis,” Gorman said in his ruling.

“This technology also makes it impossible for the victim to limit circulation or to retrieve the photographs.”

Hunt — who had no criminal record — pleaded guilty to extortion.