Phoenix Revenge Porn Defense Lawyer

Accused of Disclosing or Distributing Private Sexual Images?

Unlawful disclosure of images charges, often called “revenge porn,” may begin with a breakup, a group chat, a school report, a parent complaint, or a search warrant. These cases can move quickly, especially when police seize phones, review social media accounts, or pressure people to explain messages before they understand the legal risk.

At MayesTelles PLLC, we defend adults, students, and juveniles accused of unlawful disclosure of images in Phoenix and throughout Arizona. We also handle state and federal investigations involving seized devices, cloud accounts, online communications, and digital evidence.

If you have been arrested or are under investigation, we can move quickly to:

• Protect statements before police interviews, school meetings, or investigator contact. 
• Review warrants and device seizures involving phones, laptops, accounts, cloud data, messages, or screenshots. 
• Challenge intent and context by examining what was shared, who shared it, whether the person was identifiable, and what the State can actually prove. 
• Address early fallout involving juvenile court, school discipline, reputation, or possible federal exposure. 

Proven Attorneys. Proven Results.

MayesTelles is an award-winning trial practice with a record of success in serious sex crime cases. 

When you choose us, you can benefit from:

• 200+ years of combined experience defending criminal cases across Arizona.
• Former prosecutors and law enforcement who know how investigations are built.
• Federal defense experience for cases involving charges at the federal level.
• Juvenile defense representation for minors facing revenge porn allegations.

Call (602) 428-7104 to get started. Our Phoenix unlawful disclosure of images attorneys offer free consultations and flexible payment plans, and are available 24/7. Se habla español.

What Is Unlawful Disclosure of Sexual Images in Arizona?

Arizona’s unlawful disclosure statute is often called the “revenge porn” law, but the legal charge is broader than that label. A case does not need to involve a public website or a revenge motive in the ordinary sense. 

Prosecutors may file charges based on allegations involving text messages, screenshots, social media posts, direct messages, shared folders, group chats, or other electronic disclosures.

Under A.R.S. § 13-1425, the State generally must prove that:

• The accused intentionally disclosed an image of another person; 
• The person was identifiable from the image or related information; 
• The image depicted nudity or specific sexual activities; 
• The depicted person had a reasonable expectation of privacy; and 
• The disclosure was made with intent to harm, harass, intimidate, threaten, or coerce the depicted person. 

An image being shared does not automatically prove unlawful disclosure. The State still has to prove the required intent, the privacy element, identification, disclosure, and the accused person’s role in what happened.

Juvenile, Student, and School-Related Cases

Many unlawful disclosure cases in Arizona involve younger people. 

A student may be accused of forwarding an image, posting a screenshot, participating in a group chat, saving an image sent by someone else, or making threats during a breakup or peer dispute. Parents may first learn about the allegation when a school resource officer calls, a detective arrives, or police serve a warrant and take devices.

These cases can involve several overlapping concerns:

• Criminal or juvenile court exposure 
• School discipline, suspension, expulsion, or Title IX-related issues 
• Device searches and social media account access 
• Parent interviews, student interviews, or school resource officer questioning 
• Allegations involving minors, which can raise additional legal risks 
• Reputation, college, athletic, scholarship, or employment concerns 

If your child is accused, do not assume the school process is separate from the criminal case. Statements made to school officials, screenshots turned over to administrators, or interviews with a school resource officer may become part of the criminal investigation.

Penalties for Unlawful Disclosure of Images

Unlawful disclosure of images under A.R.S. § 13-1425 can be charged as a felony. 

A violation is generally a Class 5 felony, and if the image is disclosed by electronic means, the offense may be charged as a Class 4 felony. Arizona law also separately addresses threats to disclose these images, which may be charged as a Class 1 misdemeanor.

For a first-time felony offender, Arizona’s general sentencing ranges include:

• Class 5 felony: 6 months to 2.5 years in prison, with a presumptive term of 1.5 years. 
• Class 4 felony: 1 year to 3.75 years in prison, with a presumptive term of 2.5 years. 
• Class 1 misdemeanor: Up to 6 months in jail. 

The criminal penalty is only part of the risk. 

A conviction or juvenile adjudication can also affect:

• School discipline or campus proceedings 
• Employment and background checks 
• Professional licensing 
• Immigration status for non-citizens 
• Reputation, relationships, and online search results 
• Future criminal exposure if additional digital allegations arise 

Digital Evidence Issues

Unlawful disclosure cases often begin with phones and accounts. Police may request consent, ask for passwords, serve warrants, seize devices, or obtain records from social media platforms, cloud providers, or messaging apps. 

In some cases, federal agencies may become involved if allegations cross state lines, involve online platforms, or include images of minors that may warrant charges involving child sexual abuse material.

Your defense team can examine:

• Whether the police had a valid warrant or lawful consent
• Whether the search exceeded the warrant’s scope
• Who controlled the phone, account, or platform
• Whether screenshots are complete, altered, missing context, or misattributed
• Whether metadata, timestamps, account logs, or cloud records support the accusation
• Whether the case belongs in state court, juvenile court, or federal court.

If devices have already been taken, legal counsel should be involved before anyone gives statements, passwords, additional consent, or explanations about the images.

What We Challenge in Revenge Porn Cases

These cases can look straightforward at first because prosecutors may have screenshots or messages. Digital evidence still needs context. We look closely at:

• Intent. The State must prove intent to harm, harass, intimidate, threaten, or coerce. 
• Who disclosed the image(s). Phones, accounts, shared passwords, reposts, and group chats can create attribution problems. 
• Privacy and consent. The State has to prove the depicted person had a reasonable expectation of privacy and did not consent to the disclosure. 
• Digital context. Screenshots, deleted messages, timestamps, missing threads, and app records may change how the evidence should be read. 
• Search and seizure issues. Phones, cloud accounts, social media records, and computers raise constitutional questions. 

When Your Future Is On the Line, Call MayesTelles

Revenge porn cases can threaten your freedom, career, and future. If you or your child has been accused of unlawful disclosure of images under A.R.S. § 13-1425, the time to speak with a defense attorney is now.

MayesTelles PLLC defends adults, juveniles, and students facing digital sex crime allegations in Phoenix and across Arizona. Call us today at (602) 428-7104 for a free consultation. We take calls 24/7.