Duluth man accused of trying to blackmail Rochester woman for sexual images gets probation

(ABC 6 News) – UPDATE: Anthony William Hefty was sentenced to two years of probation and $2,600 in restitution Dec. 14.

(ABC 6 News) – A Duluth man who allegedly tried to extort nude photos from a Rochester woman entered a petition to plead guilty Monday, Nov. 11.

Anthony William Hefty, 35, is accused of two counts of stalking, coercion–threat to expose a secret or disgrace in violation of MN Statute 609.27, and nonconsensual dissemination of private sexual images, which is a gross misdemeanor whether or not the individual pictured may have consented to the image initially.

According to court documents, Hefty allegedly messaged a Rochester woman between 2018 and 2020 from secret Instagram accounts every 3-5 months, claiming he had nude photos of her and wanted more.

Hefty allegedly threatened to send photos he had to friends and family if the woman did not comply.

The woman met with Rochester police in July of 2020, who found that Hefty had one of the Instagram accounts which had messaged the woman.

He later deleted the account, according to court documents, then admitted to messaging the woman.

Hefty entered a guilty plea to an amended charge of harassment, and requested that all other charges be dropped, he receive no jail time, and that he serve probation and pay about $2,600 in restitution to the victim.

Hefty’s plea hearing is scheduled for Dec. 14, 2022.