Sending Pictures to Someone Underage Online

My question involves criminal law for the state of: New York

Hi, I am a 22 year male and today while searching through the casual encounters section of craiglist I came across a post that said a twink was looking for fun and to send pictures. I sent one picture of my shirtless body and two pictures of my penis. The post responded (email) for my number to send a picture back. When I did, about 3 or 4 hours later I received a text from an unknown number saying that I should not send those types of pictures to a 14 year old and that I would be seen in court. I replied "excuse me" and made it clear that I had not sent any pictures to a 14 year old. Upon which, a male called me and told me that I had sent the pictures to his 14 year old "kid." He said that I had texted pictures to his 14 year old but I told him I had never texted anyone, because I hadn't. He then mentioned the emails which I said I did send, but only because I believed everyone to be 18. He then told me he hopes I have a good lawyer and hung up. I called him again and I made it clear that I had not intentionally messaged a 14 year old, and he told me that it was my fault for not asking. He then told me that we could settle things in or out of court. When asked how we could settle things out of court, he told me that I should pay him $5,000. When I told him that was not possible, he asked me for how much I could pay him up front. I told him $200 and he told me that it was not enough and that I would become a registered sex offender. I called him again and he then told me that I should stop calling because if I did, he would have me arrested for harassment. Can he do this? Can I be arrested or charged for a sex crime when I did not know that the person was underage? Is this serious or is this just a very bad joke being played on me?

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Quoting Kadaj3433

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My question involves criminal law for the state of: New York

Hi, I am a 22 year male and today while searching through the casual encounters section of craiglist I came across a post that said a twink was looking for fun and to send pictures. I sent one picture of my shirtless body and two pictures of my penis. The post responded (email) for my number to send a picture back. When I did, about 3 or 4 hours later I received a text from an unknown number saying that I should not send those types of pictures to a 14 year old and that I would be seen in court. I replied "excuse me" and made it clear that I had not sent any pictures to a 14 year old. Upon which, a male called me and told me that I had sent the pictures to his 14 year old "kid." He said that I had texted pictures to his 14 year old but I told him I had never texted anyone, because I hadn't. He then mentioned the emails which I said I did send, but only because I believed everyone to be 18. He then told me he hopes I have a good lawyer and hung up. I called him again and I made it clear that I had not intentionally messaged a 14 year old, and he told me that it was my fault for not asking. He then told me that we could settle things in or out of court. When asked how we could settle things out of court, he told me that I should pay him $5,000. When I told him that was not possible, he asked me for how much I could pay him up front. I told him $200 and he told me that it was not enough and that I would become a registered sex offender. I called him again and he then told me that I should stop calling because if I did, he would have me arrested for harassment. Can he do this? Can I be arrested or charged for a sex crime when I did not know that the person was underage? Is this serious or is this just a very bad joke being played on me?

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Its no joke. Its probably someone attempting to scam you for money, but its no joke. That is the risk that you take when you go trolling for fun on craigslist.

Obviously it is in the category of world class stupid to send naked pictures of yourself to people online, when you have no idea who they are or how old they are. There are children who lie about their ages, there are actual criminal sting operations, there are people who "hunt" for predators then post their personal information online, and there are people who will run shake-down schemes... which is what appears to be happening to you.

Paying the shake-down artist won't stop them from going to the police, if in fact the other person was underage. But they know that you're unlikely to report them for their own criminal activity -- extortion -- if you fear that you will end up facing charges yourself. I suspect that you're being scammed.

Time to wise up and start thinking with your UPSTAIRS brain, unless your downstairs brain wants to be significantly poorer and/or hanging with with other men in a cell block shower.

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Quoting aardvarc

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Time to wise up and start thinking with your UPSTAIRS brain, unless your downstairs brain wants to be significantly poorer and/or hanging with with other men in a cell block shower.

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I think you need to google the word "twink " that the OP used,,i had to as I never heard of the word before lol

Go file a police report. A little embarrassment is better than a criminal record.

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Quoting tonynewman

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I think you need to google the word "twink " that the OP used,,i had to as I never heard of the word before lol

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Agreed. What you suggested, aardvarc, might actually be preferable.