Revenge porn: Woman says former Illinois state representative posted nude photos of her online

CHICAGO - A former state representative will appear in court next week, accused of catfishing men with his ex-girlfriend's nude photos.

It has turned Melissa Kreithen’s life, the ex-girlfriend of Nick Sauer, completely upside down. 

“He portrayed himself as something obviously that now, looking back to that, that he's not,” said Kreithen. 

Kreithen says she first met State Representative Sauer online. 

“He friend requested me on his Instagram page, his political page, and then he started direct messaging me,” Kreithen said. 

However, what started as an innocent internet flirtation, would end up as an unprecedented case of revenge porn.

“He seemed like a really nice guy, he had a good head on his shoulders,” Kreithen said. 

Kreithen says the two dated for a few months back in 2016.

“Direct messaging, and then eventually we exchanged numbers, Facetiming, calling, and then obviously visits,” Kreithen said. 

But with her in Florida and him in Illinois, things wouldn't last. 

“Eventually it just tapered off, I mean, long distance relationships are difficult to maintain,” Kreithen said.

Kreithen moved on and got married. Sauer got elected as a state rep, working at the Illinois House where he, ironically, was on the state task force against sexual harassment.

“It just naturally just faded off, but we remained friendly afterward,” Kreithen said. 

Then about six months ago, trouble started. Kreithen's husband spotted something that would turn her life upside down.

An article about Sauer, nude photos and a different ex-girlfriend.

“Once I reviewed the news story, I suspected at that point, that I could be a possible victim. I knew we had exchanged confidential photos in the past,” Kreithen said.

She contacted the Lake County State's Attorney.

“Eventually they did contact me, confirming my worst fear,” Kreithen said. “I had to identify myself. I was obviously very shocked. I felt victimized, I felt embarrassed.”

However, the story gets even more bizarre from there.

“He was using a fake Instagram account to lure and catfish or solicit men with intimate photos of women including myself,” Kreithen said.

Daliah Saper works with victims of revenge porn, though she's not involved in this case. Saper says revenge porn is defined as sexually graphic images of individuals used without consent.

“We’ve made great strides in actually calling this a crime,” said Saper, Principal & Founder of Saper Law. 

The laws on the books in Illinois are less than four years old. Saper says anyone can become a victim.

“It’s not just the teenager who is sexting," Saper said. "It's certainly the middle-aged professional, it's the political figure, public figure. This can happen to anybody."

To keep your images safe, Saper has specific advice. 

"Just be cautious, don't take photos that include your distinguishable features, whether that's just your face, or a tattoo or anything where people would know that's your trademark,” Saper said. “Understand what your phone can do, where those pictures are being backed up, and don't send them somewhere where it's completely out of your control.”

Another piece of advice is to just not take them at all. 

“Don't do it if the stakes are really high for you,” Saper said. 

And while Saper says some victims are paranoid or quiet, Kreithen says she decided to speak out, to empower other potential victims. 

“I would like to say to Nick that I deserve an apology, a formal apology from you,” Kreithen said. “I want an answer as to why you did this to me."

“He needs to be held accountable for it,” Kreithen said. “His mugshot said it all. The smile on his face was an absolute insult.”

Sauer is facing 12 felony charges and could spend up to 36 years in prison. His next court appearance is Feb. 6. The efforts to reach him and his attorneys were unsuccessful.