The Davie Police Department officer accused of attempting to blackmail an ex-girlfriend, who is also an officer, by threatening to release naked photos of her has been found guilty of extortion by a jury.
James Krey, who has been in the department since 2004, is accused in the "sextortion" case dating back to 2014. Krey faces up to 15 years in prison and his sentencing hearing has been scheduled for Feb. 28.
The alleged victim is Brittany Assam, who took the stand during the trial on Wednesday. After their relationship ended, investigators said Krey tried to rekindle the romance. When she declined, Krey allegedly threatened Assam via text messages ā telling her that if she did not quit her job with the department, he'd release naked pictures of her, according to an arrest report.
"You're going to have to leave Broward County, sweetheart. Anywhere you go, I have people," Krey wrote in a message, the report shows.
Krey's defense team is arguing that the incident is nothing more than a lover's quarrel. However, Assam's testimony paints a darker picture of the alleged events.
"He said if you go to that detail Iām gonna start sending out pictures of you and you know that I have them,'" Assam said during testimony.
"Did you know what pictures he was referencing?" she was asked by counsel.
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"The naked pictures that I had sent him previously," she replied.
Krey has been placed on administrative leave for the time being.
