2025 Session Last amended: 2021 session

§ 609.3458 — Sexual Extortion

Plain-Language Summary

Sexual extortion means using threats to force someone into sexual contact or sexual penetration. Covered threats include harming someone's job, making false criminal charges, reporting immigration status, sharing private sexual images, exposing secrets, or affecting someone's housing. Sexual contact through extortion carries up to 10 years in prison; sexual penetration carries up to 15 years.

Practical Notes
This law was created in 2021 to address sexual coercion that does not involve physical force. It covers common exploitation scenarios like a boss threatening to fire an employee, a landlord threatening eviction, or someone threatening to share intimate photos. Attempted sexual extortion cannot be charged as a separate crime. Convicted offenders are subject to sex offender conditional release requirements.