A man who posted nude images of his ex-girlfriend gets a year in jail and a $5,000 fine for what the judge called a case of revenge porn.
A Grand Rapids, Michigan man who posted nude images of his ex-girlfriend online was sentenced to a year in jail for what the judge called a “chilling’’ breach of trust.
“What you did is engage in revenge porn,’’ Judge Curt Benson told 25-year-old Brett J. Vanderwall. “It’s chilling what a breach of trust that was.’’
Vanderwall appeared in Kent County Circuit Court this week to be sentenced for capturing/distributing an image of an unclothed person. It’s a five-year felony.
Police say he posted to the internet nude images of his former girlfriend in early March after they broke up. The young woman told police she did not know how Vanderwall got the nude images; they were taken without her consent.
Grand Rapids police were able to locate the images, which have since been removed.
A breach of trust
Vanderwall apologized during a court appearance on Thursday, Sept. 26. He said he and the victim had a “very loving relationship.’’
“I’m really ashamed of the route I took when we split up,’’ Vanderwall said. “There were factors that came into play, but none of it should have mattered.’’
Defense attorney Norman Miller asked the judge for leniency.
“I think his emotions got the better of him; that’s what led to the conduct in this case,’’ Miller said.
However, Judge Benson was not swayed.
“There’s a big part of me that wants to send you to prison,’’ the judge told Vanderwall.
He sentenced Vanderwall to a year in the Kent County jail and put him on probation for five years. If Vanderwall violates terms of probation, prison is still an option. The judge also ordered Vanderwall to pay a $5,000 fine – the maximum possible.
“Revenge porn is a problem in society,’’ Benson said. “And to the extent that I can send a message from this court that it won’t be tolerated, I will be happy to send that message.’’
3 Responses
I bet this creep’s grandfather (who I likely knew) is rolling in his grave in disgust right now over this one. What a fucking tool, it should be obvious that you don’t send out pictures of your nude ex-girlfriend without her written and notarized permission! He should have went to prison where he would have been ass raped nightly for this transgression. Instead, he went to the Kent County Jail. We can only hope he is raped by bubbas as often as possible to teach him a lesson.
Love and breakup of that love causes people to do stupid things up to and including murder.
First …Jesus mharris. No one gets raped in jail nor do they in minimum – medium security prisons. You watch way too much television.
second… Man this pretty fn harsh for a first time offense. Not down playing the problem and this is no doubt, a crime which should be enforced….but a year in jail. I can link 100’s of (well a couple bc I’m pretty fn lazy) cases where guys have gotten less time for sexual assault on a child, long time physical abuse of a spouse or even rape. Guy at Stanford rapes a sleeping girl and gets 6 months and this guy posts a few nude pics online and gets a year? Obviously the Brock case is extreme and the average rape conviction carries around 6 years but first time sexual assault and physical abuse rarely and I meab very rarely does a stint in jail imposed. Should hopefully send a message to others that this isn’t a fn joke.