The Minnesota Court of Appeals has thrown out the conviction of a Dakota County man who distributed sexually explicit photos of his ex-girlfriend on the Internet. The judges say the state’s so-called “revenge porn” law is overly broad and unconstitutional. State Representative John Lesch from Saint Paul sponsored the legislation and says, “All the victims of these digital exploitations that occurred across the state and now, at least until the legislature or the Supreme Court fixes it, they’ll be without justice.” Lesch says people should be careful around smartphone cameras in any case, but particularly now that the “revenge porn” law has been tossed out.
Lesch is urging state and local officials to take the case to the Supreme Court. Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison says he’ll consult with the Dakota County Attorney about legal options.