Missouri
Missouri Sexting Laws: Legal Consequences and Penalties
Independently fact-checked against primary sources (last audited August 20, 2026). · Reviewed by the RecordingLaw editorial team. · Law checked current as of August 20, 2026. · 12 primary sources cited on this page. How we verify our legal content
Missouri has no safe harbor law for teen sexting, so minors who send or receive explicit images face charges under the same child sexual abuse material statutes that apply to adults. Under RSMo 573.037, even possessing a single image is a Class D felony carrying up to seven years in prison.
Overview of Missouri Sexting Laws
Missouri is one of the strictest states in the country when it comes to sexting involving minors. Unlike states such as Texas, Colorado, or California that have enacted specific statutes to treat teen sexting as a misdemeanor or divertible offense, Missouri has no safe harbor law for minors who exchange explicit images.
Instead, Missouri prosecutors rely on the general child sexual abuse material and obscenity statutes found in Chapter 573 of the Missouri Revised Statutes. This means that a teenager who sends a nude photo to a classmate faces the same category of felony charges as an adult who distributes child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
While juvenile courts often handle teen sexting cases with more leniency, the underlying charges remain serious felonies. Understanding these laws is essential for parents, educators, and young people across Missouri.
Possession of Child Sexual Abuse Material (RSMo 573.037)
The most common charge connected to receiving sexts involving a minor is "Possession of Child Sexual Abuse Material" under RSMo 573.037. A person commits this offense if they knowingly or recklessly possess any child sexual abuse material of a person under 18 years of age. Missouri renamed this and the other Chapter 573 image offenses from "child pornography" to "child sexual abuse material" effective August 28, 2026; the elements and penalties were not changed by the rename.
What Counts as Possession?
Missouri courts interpret "possession" broadly. It can include:
- Saving an image on a phone, tablet, or computer hard drive
- Having an image stored in a temporary cache file or browser history
- Keeping images in cloud accounts such as Google Photos, iCloud, or Dropbox
- Receiving an image through text message or a social media app, even without manually saving it
The key legal element is whether the person "knowingly or recklessly" possessed the material. If someone receives an unsolicited image and immediately deletes it without viewing or saving it, that generally does not satisfy the "knowing" element. However, keeping, saving, screenshotting, or forwarding the image does.
Penalties for Possession
The severity of punishment depends on the type and quantity of material:
| Material | Classification | Prison Term |
|---|---|---|
| One still image | Class D Felony | Up to 7 years |
| More than 20 still images | Class B Felony | 5 to 15 years |
| One or more videos | Class B Felony | 5 to 15 years |
| Any amount with a prior conviction | Class B Felony | 5 to 15 years |
Each item of child sexual abuse material can be charged separately, meaning a person who possesses multiple images may face multiple consecutive felony counts.
Promoting Child Sexual Abuse Material: Sending or Sharing Images
Sending, forwarding, posting, or even showing an explicit image of a minor to another person falls under Missouri's "Promoting Child Sexual Abuse Material" statutes. Missouri splits this into two degrees based on the age of the minor depicted.
Promoting in the First Degree (RSMo 573.025)
Under RSMo 573.025, it is a crime to promote (distribute, present, or produce) child sexual abuse material depicting a child under 14 years of age.
- Standard Penalty: Class B Felony (5 to 15 years)
- Aggravated Penalty: If the material is knowingly promoted to a minor, the charge becomes a Class A Felony (10 to 30 years or life imprisonment)
No person convicted under this section is eligible for probation, parole, or conditional release for a period of three calendar years.
Promoting in the Second Degree (RSMo 573.035)
Under RSMo 573.035, it is a crime to promote child sexual abuse material depicting a minor under 18 years of age (typically applied when the subject is 14 or older).
- Standard Penalty: Class D Felony (up to 7 years)
- Aggravated Penalty: If the material is knowingly promoted to a minor, the charge becomes a Class B Felony (5 to 15 years)
No person convicted under this section is eligible for probation.
Why This Matters for Teen Sexting
When a teenager sends a nude photo to another teenager, the sender has technically "promoted" child sexual abuse material "to a minor." This elevates a standard Class D Felony to a Class B Felony. A Class B Felony carries the same sentencing range as first degree assault in Missouri, and it sits one class below second degree murder, which RSMo 565.021 classifies as a Class A felony.
Sexual Exploitation of a Minor (RSMo 573.023)
Under RSMo 573.023, a person commits the offense of sexual exploitation of a minor if they knowingly or recklessly photograph, film, videotape, produce, or otherwise create obscene material with a minor, or child sexual abuse material.
This statute applies to the act of creating the material rather than possessing or distributing it. In the context of sexting, this can apply to a person who takes a nude photo of a minor, or even a minor who takes a nude photo of themselves.
- Minor aged 14 to 17: Class B Felony (5 to 15 years)
- Child under 14: Class A Felony (10 to 30 years or life imprisonment)
Furnishing Pornographic Materials to Minors (RSMo 573.040)
In some cases, defense attorneys may negotiate for a lesser charge under RSMo 573.040, "Furnishing pornographic materials to minors."
This statute makes it a crime to furnish material that is "pornographic for minors" to a person under 18. While typically intended for commercial pornography, it can sometimes serve as a plea bargain alternative to the harsher child sexual abuse material statutes.
- Penalty: Class A Misdemeanor (up to 1 year in jail and a $2,000 fine)
- Why it matters: This avoids a felony conviction and typically avoids sex offender registration, making it a crucial option in legal defense strategies for teen sexting cases
Missouri Revenge Porn Laws
Missouri addresses non-consensual image sharing through two separate statutes in Chapter 573.
Nonconsensual Dissemination (RSMo 573.110)
Under RSMo 573.110, a person commits a crime if they:
- Intentionally disseminate an image with the intent to harass, threaten, or coerce another person
- The person depicted is identifiable and is engaged in a sexual act or has intimate parts exposed
- The image was obtained under circumstances where a reasonable person would expect it to remain private
- The sender knows or should have known the person depicted did not consent to sharing
Penalty: Class D Felony (up to 7 years in prison), unless the image was of a minor or of a vulnerable person, in which case it is a Class C Felony (3 to 10 years).
Civil Remedy: The victim can sue for damages. The statute provides for a minimum award of $10,000 or actual damages, whichever is greater, plus attorney's fees.
Minor Victims Are Covered: Section 573.110 previously required that the person depicted be "at least eighteen years of age," which put minor victims outside the statute. That age floor is gone. Effective August 28, 2026, the elements no longer carry an age requirement, and the penalty subsection reads that the offense "is a class D felony, unless the image was of a minor or of a vulnerable person, in which case it is a class C felony." Conduct involving a minor can still be charged in addition under the Chapter 573 child sexual abuse material statutes discussed above.
Threatening to Disseminate (RSMo 573.112)
Under RSMo 573.112, it is a separate crime to threaten to share someone's private sexual images in order to gain something of value or to coerce the person into acting or refraining from acting. This covers sextortion scenarios.
Penalty: The offense is graded on a tiered scale. It is a Class E Felony for a first offense, a Class D Felony for a second offense, and a Class C Felony for a third or subsequent offense. It is a Class B Felony (5 to 15 years) where the person threatened is a minor or a vulnerable person, or where the threat proximately causes serious physical injury or death.
Enhanced Sextortion Penalties: HB 2273 (2026)
House Bill 2273 rewrote Missouri's image-based exploitation statutes, and the changes took effect on August 28, 2026. Sextorting a minor under RSMo 573.112 is now a Class B Felony carrying 5 to 15 years, rather than the Class E felony that applied before. That is the tier most teen sextortion cases fall into, because the victim is by definition a minor.
The same act removed the adult-only limitation from RSMo 573.110, so nonconsensual dissemination of an image of a minor or a vulnerable person is now a Class C felony. Sections 573.110, 573.112, and 573.114 are cited in the statute as "Evan's Voice Act." Separately, and effective the same date, the Chapter 573 offenses were renamed from "child pornography" to "child sexual abuse material."
Missouri Felony Sentencing Chart
The following table summarizes the authorized prison terms for each felony class under RSMo 558.011:
| Felony Class | Prison Term | Fine | Sexting-Related Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class A | 10 to 30 years, or Life | N/A | Promoting child sexual abuse material (1st degree) to a minor; sexual exploitation of a child under 14 |
| Class B | 5 to 15 years | N/A | Possession of 20+ images or video; promoting to a minor (2nd degree); sexual exploitation of minor 14-17; sextortion of a minor or a vulnerable person |
| Class C | 3 to 10 years | Up to $10,000 | Revenge porn where the image is of a minor or a vulnerable person; third or subsequent sextortion offense |
| Class D | Up to 7 years | Up to $10,000 | Possession of single image; promoting (2nd degree); revenge porn of an adult; second sextortion offense |
| Class E | Up to 4 years | Up to $10,000 | Threatening to share private images (sextortion), first offense |
Defenses and Romeo and Juliet Provisions
No Romeo and Juliet Exception for Images
Missouri has "Romeo and Juliet" type exceptions for consensual physical sexual contact between close-in-age minors under Chapter 566. However, these defenses do not apply to Chapter 573 offenses involving images or videos.
There is no line in any Missouri sexting statute that says "it is not a crime if the parties are within a certain number of years of age." A 16-year-old dating another 16-year-old has no automatic statutory defense for possessing a nude photo of their partner.
Available Defense Strategies
Defense attorneys in Missouri teen sexting cases typically rely on:
- Prosecutorial Discretion: Arguing that filing felony charges against a teenager does not serve the interest of justice in the specific circumstances
- Juvenile Court Diversion: Seeking informal adjustment or diversion programs within the juvenile court system rather than formal adjudication
- Lack of Knowledge: Proving the defendant did not "knowingly or recklessly" possess or promote the material, for example if it was unsolicited and immediately deleted
- Plea to Lesser Charge: Negotiating a plea to Furnishing Pornographic Materials (RSMo 573.040), a Class A Misdemeanor, instead of a felony
Unsolicited Images
If you receive an unsolicited explicit image, you generally do not commit a crime if you did not knowingly choose to possess it. However, keeping it, saving it, screenshotting it, or showing it to others satisfies the "knowing" element. The safest course of action is to delete the image immediately and not respond.
Sex Offender Registration
Missouri has strict sex offender registration requirements under Chapter 589. Convictions for Possession (573.037), Promoting (573.025 or 573.035), or Sexual Exploitation (573.023) typically require registration on the Missouri Sex Offender Registry maintained by the Missouri State Highway Patrol.
Tier System
Missouri uses a three-tier system under RSMo 589.400:
| Tier | Registration Duration | Typical Offenses |
|---|---|---|
| Tier I | 15 years | Lower-level offenses |
| Tier II | 25 years | Mid-level offenses, including some child sexual abuse material possession |
| Tier III | Lifetime | Serious offenses, repeat offenders, offenses involving children under 14 |
Juveniles and Registration
Registration is not a matter of judicial discretion. RSMo 589.400 does not give the juvenile court authority to decide whether a juvenile adjudicated delinquent goes on the registry. There are only two routes in for a juvenile.
The first is certification. Under RSMo 589.400.1(4), a juvenile who is certified as an adult, transferred to a court of general jurisdiction, and adjudicated for a qualifying tier I, tier II, or tier III offense must register.
The second is narrow and categorical. Under RSMo 589.400.1(5), a juvenile fourteen years of age or older at the time of the offense must register if adjudicated for an offense "which is equal to or more severe than aggravated sexual abuse under 18 U.S.C. Section 2241." Chapter 573 image offenses do not meet that threshold, so a delinquency adjudication for sexting alone does not by itself place a juvenile on the registry. A juvenile who does register under this provision is assigned a tier under RSMo 589.414 and becomes eligible for removal upon meeting the qualifications in sections 589.400 to 589.425.
Long-Term Consequences of a Sexting Conviction
Beyond potential prison time, a sexting-related charge in Missouri can have lasting effects on a young person's future:
- Education: Suspension or expulsion from school, loss of scholarships, and denial of college admission
- Employment: Difficulty finding jobs due to felony records and background checks
- Housing: Many landlords refuse to rent to individuals with sex offense records
- Military Service: A felony conviction or sex offender registration can permanently disqualify a person from military service
- Social Impact: Listing on the public sex offender registry can lead to community isolation, harassment, and long-term psychological harm
- Professional Licensing: Many professional licenses (law, medicine, education, nursing) may be denied to individuals with felony or sex offense convictions
What to Do If Charged
If you or your child faces an investigation or charges related to sexting in Missouri:
-
Do not delete evidence. Deleting images after an investigation has started can lead to "Tampering with Physical Evidence" charges under RSMo 575.100. This is a Class A misdemeanor by default, but it becomes a separate Class E felony if it impairs or obstructs the prosecution or defense of a felony, which will often be the case in a sexting investigation given the underlying felony charges.
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Exercise your right to remain silent. Do not speak to police, school administrators, or other parents without a lawyer present. Statements like "I didn't mean to hurt anyone" or "It was just a joke" can be used to establish the "knowing" element of the offense.
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Contact a criminal defense attorney immediately. The Missouri Bar Association offers a lawyer referral service to help you find an attorney experienced in juvenile or criminal defense.
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Do not contact the other party. Communication with the other person involved could be construed as witness tampering or obstruction.
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Preserve the device. Do not factory reset or destroy the phone or computer. Turn it over to your attorney, who can advise on how to handle digital evidence properly.
More Missouri Laws
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Missouri have a specific sexting law for teenagers?
No. Missouri has not enacted a safe harbor or reduced-penalty statute for teen sexting. Minors who send or receive explicit images are subject to the same child sexual abuse material statutes (Chapter 573) that apply to adults. Some states treat teen sexting as a misdemeanor, but Missouri does not.
Can a minor be charged with a felony for sending a nude selfie in Missouri?
Yes. Taking and sending a nude photo of yourself as a minor can technically constitute both Sexual Exploitation of a Minor (RSMo 573.023) for creating the image and Promoting Child Sexual Abuse Material (RSMo 573.035) for distributing it. Both are felony offenses. While prosecution for self-created images is uncommon, the legal risk increases significantly once the image is sent to another person.
Does Missouri have a Romeo and Juliet exception for sexting?
No. Missouri's close-in-age exceptions under Chapter 566 apply only to physical sexual contact, not to the creation or distribution of images under Chapter 573. Two teenagers who are the same age can still face felony charges for exchanging explicit photos.
What should a parent do if they find sexts on their child's phone?
Parents should not forward the images to anyone, including other parents or the police, because forwarding constitutes distribution. The safest approach is to confiscate the device and turn it over to law enforcement directly, or consult a criminal defense attorney immediately before taking any action.
Can sexting lead to sex offender registration in Missouri?
Yes. Convictions for Possession of Child Sexual Abuse Material (RSMo 573.037) or Promoting Child Sexual Abuse Material (RSMo 573.025 or 573.035) typically require registration on the Missouri Sex Offender Registry. Registration can last 15 years, 25 years, or a lifetime depending on the tier classification. Registration is not discretionary for juveniles: RSMo 589.400 reaches a juvenile only when the juvenile is certified as an adult, or when the juvenile is fourteen or older and adjudicated for an offense at least as severe as aggravated sexual abuse under 18 U.S.C. Section 2241, which Chapter 573 image offenses do not meet. A juvenile certified as an adult and convicted must register.
Updates
Corrected Missouri's August 28, 2026 amendments: sextorting a minor is a Class B felony (not Class C), the revenge porn statute now covers minor victims at Class C, the Chapter 573 offenses are renamed child sexual abuse material, juvenile sex offender registration is not discretionary, and second degree murder is a Class A felony.
Updated the sextortion-of-a-minor penalty enhancement from 'pending legislation' to enacted law: Governor Kehoe signed HB 2273 on April 7, 2026, raising the offense to a Class C felony (3-10 years) for conduct on or after August 28, 2026.
Independently fact-checked against the cited primary sources; governing law re-checked for recent changes
Corrected the RSMo 573.025 probation restriction to its actual three-calendar-year duration (not permanent) and clarified that tampering with physical evidence is a misdemeanor by default that escalates to a felony only when it obstructs a felony prosecution.
Governing law re-checked for recent changes
Reviewed and approved by an editor
The Law Behind This Article
This article rests on the statutory provisions below, held in our own legal record and retrieved from the official source. Tap a section to read the operative text.
Revised Statutes of Missouri, Title XXXVIII (CRIMES AND PUNISHMENT; PEACE OFFICERS AND PUBLIC DEFENDERS), Chapter 573
§ 573.037Possession of child pornography — penalty.In force
1. A person commits the offense of possession of child pornography if such person knowingly or recklessly possesses any child pornography of a minor less than eighteen years of age or obscene material portraying what appears to be a minor less than eighteen years of age. 2. The offense of possession of child pornography is a class D felony if the person possesses one still image of child pornography or one obscene still image. The offense of possession of child pornography is a class B felony if the person: (1) Possesses: (a) More than twenty still images of child pornography; or (b) More than twenty obscene still images; or (c) Child pornography comprised of one motion picture, film, videotape, videotape production, or other moving image; or (d) Obscene material comprised of one motion picture, film, videotape production, or other moving image; or (2) Has previously been found guilty of an offense under this section. 3. A person who has committed the offense of possession of child pornography is subject to separate punishments for each item of child pornography or obscene material possessed by the person.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-08-31 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at revisor.mo.gov
Cited in 20 court opinions in our collectionLatest citing opinion in our collection: 2024
In the courts (editorial summary, independently checked):In State v. Liberty (2012) the Supreme Court of Missouri held an earlier version of section 573.037 ambiguous as to the unit of prosecution, so under the rule of lenity possessing eight images at once supported one conviction. State v. Roggenbuck (2012) allowed separate counts where images were acquired at different times.
Opinions citing this section in our collection:
- State v. Liberty (Supreme Court of Missouri 2012, 370 S.W.3d 537)✓Liberty was convicted on eight counts for eight child-pornography images seized the same day; the court held they did depict sexual conduct, but the version of section 573.037 then in force was ambiguous on the unit of prosecution, so lenity left a single conviction.
- State v. Roggenbuck (Supreme Court of Missouri 2012, 387 S.W.3d 376)✓Five child-pornography photographs were downloaded and saved to Roggenbuck's user account at five different times; the court held each temporally distinct acquisition was a separate act under section 573.037, so his five convictions did not violate double jeopardy.
- F.R. v. St. Charles County Sheriff's Department (Supreme Court of Missouri 2010, 301 S.W.3d 56)“…35, RSMo, promoting child pornography in the second degree; section 573.037, RSMo, possession of child pornography, or se…”
Identified automatically from the court opinions citing this section — not a ranking of which case controls.
§ 573.035Promoting child pornography in the second degree — penalties.In force
1. A person commits the offense of promoting child pornography in the second degree if, knowing of its content and character, such person possesses with the intent to promote or promotes child pornography of a minor under the age of eighteen or obscene material portraying what appears to be a minor under the age of eighteen. 2. The offense of promoting child pornography in the second degree is a class D felony unless the person knowingly promotes such material to a minor, in which case it is a class B felony. No person who is found guilty of promoting child pornography in the second degree shall be eligible for probation.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-31 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at revisor.mo.gov
Cited in 4 court opinions in our collectionLatest citing opinion in our collection: 2019
Opinions citing this section in our collection:
- State v. Hagan (Missouri Court of Appeals 2002, 79 S.W.3d 447)“…counts of promoting child pornography in the second degree, § 573.035, RSMo Supp.1999. With his one point relied on…”
- F.R. v. St. Charles County Sheriff's Department (Supreme Court of Missouri 2010, 301 S.W.3d 56)“…025, RSMo, promoting child pornography in the first degree; section 573.035, RSMo, promoting child pornography in the sec…”
- State of Missouri v. Donald A. Fodrini, Jr. (Missouri Court of Appeals 2019, 570 S.W.3d 170)“…ng child pornography in the second degree, in violation of Section 573.035 RSMo 2000 (Cum. Supp. 2009), 2 and twenty-fo…”
Identified automatically from the court opinions citing this section — not a ranking of which case controls.
§ 573.025Promoting child pornography in the first degree — penalties.In force
1. A person commits the offense of promoting child pornography in the first degree if, knowing of its content and character, such person possesses with the intent to promote or promotes child pornography of a child less than fourteen years of age or obscene material portraying what appears to be a child less than fourteen years of age. 2. The offense of promoting child pornography in the first degree is a class B felony unless the person knowingly promotes such material to a minor, in which case it is a class A felony. No person who is found guilty of promoting child pornography in the first degree shall be eligible for probation, parole, or conditional release for a period of three calendar years. 3. Nothing in this section shall be construed to require a provider of electronic communication services or remote computing services to monitor any user, subscriber or customer of the provider, or the content of any communication of any user, subscriber or customer of the provider.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-31 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at revisor.mo.gov
Cited in 12 court opinions in our collectionLatest citing opinion in our collection: 2012
Opinions citing this section in our collection:
- State v. Sanders (Missouri Court of Appeals 2003, 126 S.W.3d 5)“…e count of promoting child pornography in the first degree, Section 573.025, RSMo, involving his daughter. Following a ch…”
- State v. Hagan (Missouri Court of Appeals 2002, 79 S.W.3d 447)“…10, RSMo 2000, as a person under the age of fourteen. See § 573.025, RSMo 2000. Therefore, since the State’s evid…”
- State v. Roggenbuck (Supreme Court of Missouri 2012, 387 S.W.3d 376)“…er, constitutes the crime of "promoting child pornography.” Section 573.025, RSMo Supp. 2007, section 573.010(15), RSMo S…”
Identified automatically from the court opinions citing this section — not a ranking of which case controls.
§ 573.023Sexual exploitation of a minor — penalties.In force
1. A person commits the offense of sexual exploitation of a minor if such person knowingly or recklessly photographs, films, videotapes, produces or otherwise creates obscene material with a minor or child pornography. 2. The offense of sexual exploitation of a minor is a class B felony unless the minor is a child, in which case it is a class A felony.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-31 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at revisor.mo.gov
Cited in 4 court opinions in our collectionLatest citing opinion in our collection: 2019
Opinions citing this section in our collection:
- F.R. v. St. Charles County Sheriff's Department (Supreme Court of Missouri 2010, 301 S.W.3d 56)“…n 568.090, RSMo, promoting a sexual performance by a child; section 573.023, RSMo, sexual exploitation of a minor; sectio…”
- Chaney v. State (Missouri Court of Appeals 2010, 323 S.W.3d 836)“…nt of the class A felony of sexual exploitation of a minor, Section 573.023, RSMo 2000, 1 and one count of t…”
- State v. LeFLORE (Missouri Court of Appeals 2008, 254 S.W.3d 904)“…o 2000, and three counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, Section 573.023, RSMo 2000, for which Defendant was sentenced…”
Identified automatically from the court opinions citing this section — not a ranking of which case controls.
§ 573.110Nonconsensual dissemination of private sexual images, offense of — definitions — elements — exemptions — immunity from liability, when — penalty — private cause of action, when.In forcecited in 5 of our articles
1. As used in this section and section 573.112, the following terms mean: (1) "Computer", a device that accepts, processes, stores, retrieves, or outputs data and includes, but is not limited to, auxiliary storage and telecommunications devices connected to computers; (2) "Computer program", a series of coded instructions or statements in a form acceptable to a computer that causes the computer to process data and supply the results of the data processing; (3) "Data", a representation in any form of information, knowledge, facts, concepts, or instructions including, but not limited to, program documentation, that is prepared or has been prepared in a formalized manner and is stored or processed in or transmitted by a computer or in a system or network. Data is considered property and may be in any form including, but not limited to, printouts, magnetic or optical storage media, punch cards, data stored internally in the memory of the computer, or data stored externally that is accessible by the computer; (4) "Image", a photograph, film, videotape, digital recording, or other depiction or portrayal of an object, including a human body; (5) "Intimate parts", the fully…
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-31 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at revisor.mo.gov
Cited in 3 court opinions in our collectionLatest citing opinion in our collection: 2026
Opinions citing this section in our collection:
- United States v. Anthony Madison (Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit 2026)“…and nonconsensual dissemination of private sexual images, Mo. Rev. Stat. § 573.110, though the state grand jury later retu…”
- Gray (District Court, W.D. Missouri 2025)“…it knows how to say so in the statute itself. See, e.g., Mo. Rev. Stat. § 573.110.7 (“In addition to the criminal penalti…”
- Soule v. Langley Recycling, Inc. (District Court, W.D. Missouri 2020)“…sexual images of her without her consent, in violation of Mo. Rev. Stat. § 573.110. Now before the Cou…”
Identified automatically from the court opinions citing this section — not a ranking of which case controls.
Also relied on in: Missouri Recording Laws (2026): One-Party Consent Rules, Missouri Video Recording Laws: Public Spaces, Private Property, and Consent Rules, Missouri Voyeurism Laws: Hidden Cameras, Penalties, and Privacy Protections
§ 573.112Threatening the nonconsensual dissemination of private sexual images, offense of — elements — penalty.In forcecited in 4 of our articles
1. A person commits the offense of threatening the nonconsensual dissemination of private sexual images if he or she gains or attempts to gain anything of value, or coerces or attempts to coerce another person to act or refrain from acting, by threatening to disseminate an image of another person, which was obtained under circumstances in which a reasonable person would know or understand that the image was to remain private, against the will of such person: (1) Who is at least eighteen years of age; (2) Who is identifiable from the image itself or information displayed in connection with the image; and (3) Who is engaged in a sexual act or whose intimate parts are exposed, in whole or in part. 2. The offense of threatening the nonconsensual dissemination of private sexual images is a class E felony.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-31 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at revisor.mo.gov
§ 573.040Furnishing pornographic materials to minors — penalty.In force
1. A person commits the offense of furnishing pornographic material to minors if, knowing of its content and character, he or she: (1) Furnishes any material pornographic for minors, knowing that the person to whom it is furnished is a minor or acting in reckless disregard of the likelihood that such person is a minor; or (2) Produces, presents, directs or participates in any performance pornographic for minors that is furnished to a minor knowing that any person viewing such performance is a minor or acting in reckless disregard of the likelihood that a minor is viewing the performance; or (3) Furnishes, produces, presents, directs, participates in any performance or otherwise makes available material that is pornographic for minors via computer, electronic transfer, internet or computer network if the person made the matter available to a specific individual known by the defendant to be a minor. 2. It is not a defense to a prosecution for a violation of this section that the person being furnished the pornographic material is a peace officer masquerading as a minor.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-31 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at revisor.mo.gov
Cited in 14 court opinions in our collectionLatest citing opinion in our collection: 2018
Opinions citing this section in our collection:
- State v. Strughold (Missouri Court of Appeals 1998, 973 S.W.2d 876)“…unt IV); furnishing pornographic material to a minor, K.C., Section 573.040 RSMo 1994 (Count VII); sexual misconduct in…”
- Opinion No. (1986) (Missouri Attorney General Reports 1986)“…lars may be added to any other penalties imposed by law. Section 573.040 , RSMo 1978, provides: 1. A…”
- F.R. v. St. Charles County Sheriff's Department (Supreme Court of Missouri 2010, 301 S.W.3d 56)“…section 573.037, RSMo, possession of child pornography, or section 573.040, RSMo, furnishing pornographic material to mi…”
Identified automatically from the court opinions citing this section — not a ranking of which case controls.
Revised Statutes of Missouri, Title XXXVIII (CRIMES AND PUNISHMENT; PEACE OFFICERS AND PUBLIC DEFENDERS), Chapter 589
§ 589.400Registration of certain offenders with registration official of county of residence — time limitation — registration requirements — fees — temporary residents — nonresident workers, higher education students and workers.In forcecited in 3 of our articles
1. Unless exempt from registering under section 589.401, sections 589.400 to 589.425 shall apply to: (1) Any person who, since July 1, 1979, has been or is hereafter adjudicated for an offense that would classify the person as a tier I offender, tier II offender, or tier III offender in this state; (2) Any person who, since July 1, 1979, has been committed to the department of mental health as a criminal sexual psychopath; (3) Any person who, since July 1, 1979, has been found not guilty as a result of mental disease or defect of any offense that would classify the person as a tier I offender, tier II offender, or tier III offender; (4) Any juvenile certified as an adult and transferred to a court of general jurisdiction who has been adjudicated for an offense that would classify the juvenile as a tier I offender, tier II offender, or tier III offender; (5) Any juvenile fourteen years of age or older at the time of the offense who has been adjudicated for an offense which is equal to or more severe than aggravated sexual abuse under 18 U.S.C.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-31 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at revisor.mo.gov
Cited in 26 court opinions in our collectionLatest citing opinion in our collection: 2025
Opinions citing this section in our collection:
- F.R. v. St. Charles County Sheriff's Department (Supreme Court of Missouri 2010, 301 S.W.3d 56)“…[2] Sections 566.141, 589.040.2, RSMo Supp. 1990. [3] Sections 589.400, RSMo Supp. 1998. [4] Sections 589.407, RS…”
- Ramsey v. State (Missouri Court of Appeals 2005, 182 S.W.3d 655)“…sistance of counsel because counsel failed to advise him of section 589.400 RSMo 2000, 3 the Missouri law r…”
- Petrovick v. State (Missouri Court of Appeals 2018, 537 S.W.3d 388)“…s a sex offender,” and that he “has been in compliance with Section 589.400 RSMo. since he became aware of his duty to r…”
Identified automatically from the court opinions citing this section — not a ranking of which case controls.
Also relied on in: Missouri Name Change Laws: How to Legally Change Your Name
Revised Statutes of Missouri, Title XXXVIII (CRIMES AND PUNISHMENT; PEACE OFFICERS AND PUBLIC DEFENDERS), Chapter 558
§ 558.011Sentence of imprisonment, terms — conditional release.In forcecited in 11 of our articles
1. The authorized terms of imprisonment, including both prison and conditional release terms, are: (1) For a class A felony, a term of years not less than ten years and not to exceed thirty years, or life imprisonment; (2) For a class B felony, a term of years not less than five years and not to exceed fifteen years; (3) For a class C felony, a term of years not less than three years and not to exceed ten years; (4) For a class D felony, a term of years not to exceed seven years; (5) For a class E felony, a term of years not to exceed four years; (6) For a class A misdemeanor, a term not to exceed one year; (7) For a class B misdemeanor, a term not to exceed six months; (8) For a class C misdemeanor, a term not to exceed fifteen days.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-31 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at revisor.mo.gov
Cited in 128 court opinions in our collectionLatest citing opinion in our collection: 2025
Opinions citing this section in our collection:
- Rentschler v. Nixon (Supreme Court of Missouri 2010, 311 S.W.3d 783)“…When all were sentenced, the conditional release statute, section 558.011, RSMo 1978, was silent regarding whether viol…”
- Hall v. Missouri Bd. of Probation and Parole (Missouri Court of Appeals 1999, 10 S.W.3d 540)“…court erroneously declared and applied the law by applying § 558.011, RSMo 1994, as opposed to the 1986 version, t…”
- State v. Quisenberry (Supreme Court of Missouri 1982, 639 S.W.2d 579)“…If not, court imposition of a longer sentence is error. Section 558.011, RSMo Cum.Supp.1981, provides in pertinent pa…”
Identified automatically from the court opinions citing this section — not a ranking of which case controls.
Also relied on in: Missouri Dog Bite Laws: Liability and Victim Rights, Missouri Audio Recording Laws: One-Party Consent Rules and Penalties, Missouri Phone Call Recording Laws: Consent Rules for Landline, Cell, and VoIP
Revised Statutes of Missouri, Title XXXVIII (CRIMES AND PUNISHMENT; PEACE OFFICERS AND PUBLIC DEFENDERS), Chapter 575
§ 575.100Tampering with physical evidence — penalties.In force
1. A person commits the offense of tampering with physical evidence if he or she: (1) Alters, destroys, suppresses or conceals any record, document or thing with purpose to impair its verity, legibility or availability in any official proceeding or investigation; or (2) Makes, presents or uses any record, document or thing knowing it to be false with the purpose to mislead a public servant who is or may be engaged in any official proceeding or investigation. 2. The offense of tampering with physical evidence is a class A misdemeanor, unless the person impairs or obstructs the prosecution or defense of a felony, in which case tampering with physical evidence is a class E felony.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-31 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at revisor.mo.gov
Cited in 17 court opinions in our collectionLatest citing opinion in our collection: 2017
Opinions citing this section in our collection:
- Brown v. Hamid (Supreme Court of Missouri 1993, 856 S.W.2d 51)“…ged her surname to Ellis. 2 . § 575.100 RSMo 1986. 3 .…”
- State v. Molasky (Supreme Court of Missouri 1989, 765 S.W.2d 597)“…1 , and tampering with physical evidence, § 575.100, RSMo 1978. He was sentenced to 15 years for…”
- Marmaduke v. CBL & Associates Management, Inc. (Missouri Court of Appeals 2017, 521 S.W.3d 257)“…the elements of tampering with a witness or a victim) with § 575.100 RSMo (2017) (setting forth the elements of t…”
Identified automatically from the court opinions citing this section — not a ranking of which case controls.
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Sources and References
- Missouri Revised Statutes - Chapter 573: Pornography and Related Offenses(revisor.mo.gov).gov
- RSMo 573.037 - Possession of Child Pornography(revisor.mo.gov).gov
- RSMo 573.025 - Promoting Child Pornography in the First Degree(revisor.mo.gov).gov
- RSMo 573.035 - Promoting Child Pornography in the Second Degree(revisor.mo.gov).gov
- RSMo 573.023 - Sexual Exploitation of a Minor(revisor.mo.gov).gov
- RSMo 573.040 - Furnishing Pornographic Materials to Minors(revisor.mo.gov).gov
- RSMo 573.110 - Nonconsensual Dissemination of Private Sexual Images(revisor.mo.gov).gov
- RSMo 573.112 - Threatening Nonconsensual Dissemination of Private Sexual Images(revisor.mo.gov).gov
- RSMo 558.011 - Authorized Terms of Imprisonment(revisor.mo.gov).gov
- RSMo 589.400 - Sex Offender Registration Requirements(revisor.mo.gov).gov
- Missouri State Highway Patrol - Sex Offender Registry(mshp.dps.missouri.gov).gov
- Missouri Bar Association - Find a Lawyer(mobar.org)
- Gov. Kehoe signs HB 2273 (sextortion penalty enhancement) into law - Missourinet(missourinet.com)
- RSMo 575.100 - Tampering with Physical Evidence(revisor.mo.gov).gov
- RSMo 565.021 - Murder in the Second Degree (class A felony)(revisor.mo.gov)
- RSMo 565.050 - Assault in the First Degree (class B felony)(revisor.mo.gov)