What charges can be pressed against someone who threatens or blackmails you?

Question

i recently went out with someone who cheated on me, lied, then dumped me- and was angry when i fussed him about about lying, cheating on me, dumping me, etc- he said he was going to use my personal pictures and personal information i own- emails i've typed to him, and messages i sent to him and send them to others- send pictures i showed him to others- and post my pictures and stuff everywhere and use my identity as a person and pretend to be me- he saved some pictures i showed him online, and lied about saving them- and he said he would create online accounts with my picture, my personal information, and my name online- what kind of charges could i press against someone like this? he was angry i fussed him out about his cheating and lying ways and threatened to hurt my creditability as far as making false accounts in my name!

i already told him since he admitted he might be doing this- i could do the same thing to him if i wanted- but i won't because i'm not a horrible person like that- and now that he admitted it- i could contact the authorities and possibly sue him-

he backed off with the threats-

but he's a shaddy person- and he might go along with his threats without me knowing- and one day i find accounts of me with my pics, personal info, etc- online and he's done it-

if he threatens me more- should i just file a police report-

thanks!

Answer 1

Typically threatening to do something is not a crime and you would be unable to press any charges against this person.  Unfortunately he would actually have to commit a crime in order to have charges filed against him.

If you tell him to leave you alone and he does not, you could ask for a restraining order and press charges of harassment.  

It is not blackmail unless someone forces you into taking an action you would not otherwise take if they were not threatening you with some penalty for not taking the action.  

If he actually goes through with any of these threats, you would be able to press charges of identity theft, false impersonation, and possibly libel, slander and defamation.  

If he has backed off on the threats, perhaps he is cooling down from the ego bruising you gave him and will find another innocent victim.