One angry text. One late-night post. One private photo sent in the heat of the moment.
That’s all it can take for a “digital argument” to turn into handcuffs and a court date in Connecticut. I see it every week. Most folks who call me about cyberstalking or revenge-porn charges aren’t predators—they’re regular people in the middle of a breakup, a messy situationship, or workplace drama who never thought a phone could land them in criminal court.
Below, I’ll explain—in plain English—how these cases are charged, what the stakes look like, and how I defend them.
What does “cyberstalking” really mean in Connecticut?
There isn’t a statute literally named “cyberstalking.” Prosecutors use the regular stalking and harassment laws and apply them to online behavior—texts, DMs, comments, tagging, location tracking, the works.
-
Harassment 2nd (C.G.S. § 53a-183) is common in text/DM cases: repeated electronic messages sent to alarm, harass, or terrorize—without a legitimate purpose.
-
Harassment 1st (C.G.S. § 53a-182b) is the more serious, often when there are threats or priors.
-
Stalking 2nd / 3rd (C.G.S. §§ 53a-181d, 53a-181e) covers a “course of conduct” (two or more acts) that would make a reasonable person fear for their safety or suffer severe emotional distress. The statutes expressly include electronic/social media conduct.
-
Stalking 1st (C.G.S. § 53a-181c) is stalking with aggravators (like prior convictions or violating a court order).
-
Electronic Stalking (C.G.S. § 53a-181f) is a Class D felony for using an electronic service (GPS, apps, online tools) to harass or intimidate, causing reasonable fear of serious harm or serious emotional distress.
In real life, this looks like: making new accounts after being blocked and continuing to DM; obsessively watching stories and pinging friends; using AirTags/GPS to “coincidentally” pop up; or posting about someone in ways that make them feel monitored. One rude message usually isn’t a crime. A pattern can be.
What is “revenge porn” under Connecticut law?
Connecticut charges these cases as Unlawful Dissemination of an Intimate Image (C.G.S. § 53a-189c). If you intentionally share a private sexual image of someone without their consent, knowing it was meant to stay private, and they’re harmed, you can be charged—even if you didn’t take the photo.
Sharing to one person can be a Class A misdemeanor; blasting it online can turn it into a Class D felony. Related charges that sometimes get stacked include Dissemination of Voyeuristic Material (C.G.S. § 53a-189b) (secret recordings), and when minors are involved, Risk of Injury to a Minor (C.G.S. § 53-21). Deepfakes and AI-altered sexual images can be charged under these same laws.
Plenty of people are stunned to learn that forwarding one explicit screenshot to a group chat can be enough.
How do these cases usually start?
A few familiar patterns:
-
Breakups and “one last message.” After a split, the texts don’t stop—new accounts, indirect posts, tagging friends. The other person shows the police a phone full of screenshots and says they’re scared.
-
Group chats and screenshots. Someone forwards a private picture after an argument; a friend takes it to the police.
-
Schools and workplaces. Repeated DMs or comments turn into formal complaints that get routed to law enforcement.
-
Protective orders. A single tag, like, or “subtweet,” can become a felony Violation of a Protective Order if an order bars contact—direct or indirect.
From there, expect screenshots, chat exports, provider records, phone search warrants, and a review of the entire conversation—not just the worst message.
What are the real-world penalties?
It depends on the charge, your record, and whether the case is marked as domestic violence.
-
Misdemeanors like Harassment 2nd or Stalking 3rd can carry a sentence of up to 3–12 months in jail, fines, and probation per count.
-
Felonies—Harassment 1st, Stalking 2nd/1st, Electronic Stalking, felony-level Unlawful Dissemination, Dissemination of Voyeuristic Material—can carry up to 5 years or more, plus heavy fines and long probation.
And then there are the collateral consequences: protective orders, firearm issues, immigration problems, professional license discipline, school discipline, and even probation limits on your internet/device use. A conviction can shadow job and background checks for years.
Common patterns I see (and why they matter)
-
The breakup spiral. Dozens of messages over a few days—apologizing, pleading, then angry. That frequency becomes the “course of conduct.”
-
Location “coincidences.” Shared locations, trackers, or app access lead to repeated pop-ups at the same bar or gym. Prosecutors see electronic stalking.
-
“I’ll show everyone.” Threats to share private images—and actually sending them—drive Unlawful Dissemination charges (and worse if minors see them).
-
Indirect posts. Memes and lyrics “about” someone can count as contact when there’s a protective order.
None of this is to scare you. It’s to show how ordinary, emotional behavior gets reframed as a criminal pattern.
Defenses and ways to fight back
Every case is different, but a few themes come up again and again:
-
Intent. Harassment and many stalking counts require intent to harass, terrorize, or alarm. Mutual arguing, attempts to solve a real problem (money, kids, property), joking, or reconciliation can undercut intent.
-
Pattern vs. one-off. Stalking needs repeated conduct. One impulsive message in a long silence is not the same as daily DMs for weeks.
-
Who actually sent it? Shared devices, spoofed numbers, hacked accounts, roommates—authorship matters. The State has to link the post or message to you.
-
Is the image really “intimate” and private? If similar images were already public, or the image doesn’t meet the statute’s “intimate” definition, or there’s no real harm, that’s a fight.
-
Free speech and overcharging. You’re allowed to be rude online. The line is crossed with true threats, relentless contact after clear “stop,” or intentional terrorizing. Overcharged felonies can often be pushed back down.
What you should (and shouldn’t) do right now
-
Don’t talk to police without a lawyer. “Explaining” almost always makes things worse.
-
Stop all contact. No last-text, no indirect post, no “accidental” like—especially if there’s any protective order.
-
Preserve evidence—don’t delete. Save screenshots, messages, call logs, and names of witnesses. Deleting can be spun as destruction.
-
Write down what happened while it’s fresh. Times, dates, who saw what, and the wider context.
-
Get a lawyer who handles digital-evidence cases. There are options—diversion, negotiation, defenses—you won’t know about on your own.
FAQs: Cyberstalking and Revenge Porn in Connecticut
Can I really be arrested for texts or DMs?
Yes. If police think your messages show a pattern and an intent to harass or threaten, you can be charged even if you never showed up in person.
Is revenge porn always a felony?
No. Sharing to one person can be a misdemeanor; blasting it online or adding aggravators can make it a felony.
What if we both traded pictures?
Mutual sharing doesn’t give you permission to forward theirs. It can matter for context and intent, but it isn’t a free pass.
I sent an image to just one friend—still a crime?
It can be. The law focuses on consent and harm, not just audience size.
Can these cases be dismissed through a program?
Sometimes. Depending on the facts and your record, programs like Accelerated Rehabilitation (AR) or family-violence education can lead to dismissal if you complete conditions.
Will this affect my job or immigration status?
It can. These charges raise flags on background checks, and non-citizens face added risks. You need a strategy that protects more than just “no jail.”
Talk to a Connecticut lawyer who actually handles these cases
If you’re under investigation or already arrested for cyberstalking, online harassment, or revenge porn in Connecticut, don’t go it alone. I’ve defended clients statewide in cases built on texts, DMs, social media, intimate images, and GPS data. I know how these files are assembled—and where they’re weak.
Call me, Attorney Allan F. Friedman, at (203) 357-5555 or use my contact page to set up a confidential consultation. We’ll go through what happened, what the State can (and can’t) prove, and build a plan to protect your record, your reputation, and your future.