Facing an Extortion Charge in Yukon? What Happens Next

What an extortion charge means

An extortion charge in Yukon is laid under section 346 of the Criminal Code. It is one of the most serious offences in the Code that does not involve a death or a sexual assault. Being charged does not mean you are guilty. You are presumed innocent unless the Crown proves every part of the offence beyond a reasonable doubt.

The Crown is the prosecutor who brings the case on behalf of the public. To convict you of extortion, the Crown must prove that you:

• used threats, accusations, menaces or violence;
• to induce, or try to induce, someone to do something or cause something to be done;
• with the intent to obtain anything; and
• did so without reasonable justification or excuse.

Several points surprise people. The "anything" demanded does not have to be money. It can be property, a service, intimate images or a particular action. The person pressured does not have to be the person threatened. And the demand does not have to succeed: an attempt is enough. The Code also says that a threat to start a civil lawsuit is not, by itself, a threat for the purposes of this section.

Extortion is a straight indictable offence. Unlike many offences after the 2019 Bill C-75 reforms, it is not hybrid, so the Crown cannot proceed by the less serious summary route. Common situations include online "sextortion" (demanding money or images under threat of sharing intimate content), threats of violence to collect money, and threats to reveal damaging information. Police sometimes lay related charges as well, such as uttering threats, criminal harassment or sharing intimate images without consent. For a broader overview, see our national guide to extortion under the Criminal Code.

What happens after an extortion charge in Yukon

Arrest and release

After an arrest, police may release you on an undertaking, which is a written promise to attend court and follow certain conditions. If police do not release you, you must be brought before a justice for a bail hearing, where you may be released on a release order or held in custody.

Common conditions in extortion cases include no contact with the complainant or their family, staying away from certain places, limits on using social media or the internet, not possessing weapons, and living at a set address. Breaking a condition is a separate criminal offence, so read your paperwork carefully. If the allegation involves a firearm or a criminal organization, the law may place a "reverse onus" on you, which means you would have to show why you should be released.

Who decides on charges in Yukon

In the territories, Criminal Code offences are prosecuted by the Public Prosecution Service of Canada (PPSC), the federal prosecution service. Police lay the charge, and a PPSC Crown prosecutor reviews the file and decides whether the prosecution should continue, on what charges, and what position to take on bail and sentence.

First appearance

Your first appearance will be in the Territorial Court of Yukon. Usually no evidence is heard. The court confirms you have the charge, and the case is often adjourned so you can get a lawyer and receive disclosure. A lawyer can often appear for you.

Disclosure

Disclosure is the Crown's evidence: police notes, witness statements, messages, screenshots, phone or bank records and any warrants or production orders. In extortion cases, digital evidence is often central, so disclosure can be large and may arrive in stages. Your lawyer needs it to advise you properly.

The election: choosing your court

For hybrid offences, the Crown chooses whether to proceed summarily or by indictment. Because extortion is indictable only, there is no Crown election. Instead, you usually choose your mode of trial: a judge of the Territorial Court, a judge alone in the Supreme Court of Yukon, or a judge and jury in the Supreme Court. Because the maximum sentence is life, you can also request a preliminary inquiry (a hearing to test the Crown's evidence) if you choose the Supreme Court.

Resolution or trial

Many cases involve meetings between defence and Crown, and a judicial pretrial. Depending on the evidence, a case may be withdrawn or stayed, resolved on a different charge, or resolved with a peace bond (a court order to keep the peace, with no criminal record). Other cases go to trial. These decisions are yours to make with your lawyer's advice.

How long it takes

Cases often take many months, and complex digital or multi-accused cases can take longer. Under the Supreme Court of Canada's Jordan framework, delay is presumed unreasonable if a case takes more than 18 months in the Territorial Court or 30 months in the Supreme Court of Yukon, subject to exceptions and delay caused by the defence.

Possible penalties for extortion

Bill C-5 (2022) repealed the former four-year minimum for extortion with other firearms. Parliament has since been considering further changes to extortion penalties in response to rising extortion across Canada, so a lawyer should confirm the law that applies to the date of your alleged offence.

What sentences can look like in practice

The life maximum is reserved for the most serious cases. Actual sentences vary widely with the facts. Because the maximum is life, an absolute or conditional discharge (a finding of guilt with no conviction recorded) is not available for extortion. Options the court may consider include:

• Suspended sentence with probation: no jail, but conditions supervised in the community, where no minimum applies.
• Fine: possible in law but uncommon on its own for extortion.
• Conditional sentence: a jail sentence under two years served in the community, often with house arrest. After Bill C-5 this may be available where no minimum applies and the judge is satisfied it would not endanger the community, but it is excluded for certain offences, including some criminal organization offences.
• Jail: sentences under two years are served in a territorial facility; two years or more in a federal penitentiary.

Courts can also make orders such as a weapons prohibition (often mandatory where violence was used or threatened), a DNA order, restitution and a no-contact order.

Factors that often matter include whether violence or weapons were involved, how serious the threats were, the amount demanded or obtained, the victim's age and vulnerability, planning and sophistication, any link to organized crime, your record, and your background and rehabilitation prospects. For Indigenous people, the court must consider their circumstances and background under section 718.2(e).

Other consequences in Yukon

Criminal record and record suspension

A conviction creates a criminal record. Because extortion is indictable only, the Parole Board of Canada waiting period for a record suspension (formerly a pardon) is 10 years after you complete your sentence, including paying any fine and finishing probation. The five-year period applies only to summary offences. These rules have been under review, so check the current requirements before you apply.

Travel to the United States

US border officials can refuse entry for offences they consider crimes involving moral turpitude, and extortion is likely to be treated that way. Even a pending charge can raise questions at the border. Some people need a US waiver to travel.

Immigration for non-citizens

Because extortion carries a maximum of life, a conviction can count as "serious criminality" under Canadian immigration law. Permanent residents, students, workers and visitors can face loss of status or removal. If you are not a Canadian citizen, get immigration advice before any resolution.

Employment

An extortion charge or conviction can affect jobs involving trust, money, children or vulnerable people, as well as security clearances and bonding. Release conditions, such as internet limits, may also affect your work. This is not a driving offence, so there are no licence consequences.

Common defences and issues a lawyer will look at

Every case is different. A lawyer reviewing an extortion charge in Yukon will often examine:

• Identity: in online cases, can the Crown prove you were the person behind the account, phone number or message? Shared devices and fake profiles are common issues.
• Was there a threat or menace? Harsh words, hard bargaining or an angry demand are not automatically extortion. The context matters.
• Reasonable justification or excuse: for example, a legitimate demand to repay a real debt, or a threat to sue, which the Code says is not a threat for this section.
• Intent to obtain something: the Crown must prove the purpose of the threat was to get something.
• Section 8 of the Charter (unreasonable search and seizure): searches of phones, computers, accounts and cloud data usually require a warrant or production order. Problems with how these were obtained or carried out can lead to evidence being excluded.
• Section 9 (arbitrary detention) and section 10(b) (the right to a lawyer without delay on arrest or detention).
• Statements to police: whether they were voluntary and properly obtained.
• Reliability of digital evidence: whether screenshots and messages are complete, accurate and properly linked to you.
• Delay: whether the case has exceeded the Jordan ceilings.

How common is this charge in Yukon?

According to Statistics Canada police-reported data (table 35-10-0177), Yukon recorded a rate of 55.93 extortion incidents per 100,000 people in 2025, with 27 incidents and 1 person charged. The Canada-wide rate that year was 29.13.

Reported extortion in Yukon has risen sharply, from 2 incidents in 2016 to 27 in both 2023 and 2025, and the territory's rate has been well above the national rate since 2022. Because Yukon's population is small, a few cases can move the rate a lot. Very few people are charged: six in total across these ten years. This may reflect that many incidents, especially online, involve suspects who cannot be identified or are outside the territory. See more on our Yukon crime statistics page and follow local cases on Yukon crime news.

If you are the victim or complainant

If someone is threatening you to get money, images or anything else, you can report it to police. In online sextortion cases, it often helps to stop responding, avoid paying, and keep evidence such as screenshots, usernames, phone numbers and payment details. If you are in immediate danger, call 911.

Police investigate and may lay a charge. The PPSC Crown then decides whether to prosecute. The Crown does not act as your personal lawyer, but you have rights under the Canadian Victims Bill of Rights, including the right to information about the case, to have your safety considered, and to present a victim impact statement at sentencing. Ask the police or the Crown about victim services available in Yukon, which can provide support, information and help preparing for court.

If the accused is released, the court can impose no-contact conditions. Tell police if they are broken. Even without a criminal charge, you can ask about a peace bond under section 810 of the Criminal Code if you fear someone will harm you or your property. You can also get your own independent legal advice at any stage.

When to speak with a lawyer

Speak with a criminal defence lawyer as early as possible: ideally before you talk to police, and before your first appearance in the Territorial Court of Yukon. You have the right to remain silent and the right to a lawyer on arrest. Anything you say, post or message can become evidence, so avoid discussing the case with anyone, including the complainant and online.

A lawyer can help with bail and release conditions, review disclosure, identify Charter issues, advise on your election, and explain your options. If you cannot afford a lawyer, you can apply to the Yukon Legal Services Society for legal aid.

People charged can request a free, confidential first consultation through an independent criminal defence lawyer here, and victims or complainants can request one here.

This guide is general information about the law in Yukon, not legal advice. Every case depends on its own facts, so speak with a lawyer about your situation.

Frequently asked questions

Is extortion a summary or indictable offence in Canada?

Extortion under section 346 of the Criminal Code is a straight indictable offence. The Crown cannot choose to proceed summarily, as it can with many hybrid offences. The maximum sentence is life imprisonment. Mandatory minimums of five years (first offence) and seven years (repeat offence) apply only when a restricted or prohibited firearm is used, or any firearm is used in connection with a criminal organization.

What is the sentence for an extortion charge in Yukon?

Sentences depend heavily on the facts. The maximum is life, but that is reserved for the worst cases. Depending on the circumstances, a court may consider a suspended sentence with probation, a conditional sentence served in the community, or jail. Key factors include violence, weapons, the amount demanded, the victim's vulnerability, planning, any organized crime link and your background. Discharges are not available.

Can I get a discharge for extortion?

No. Under the Criminal Code, absolute and conditional discharges are not available for offences carrying a maximum of 14 years or life. Because extortion carries a maximum of life, a discharge is not an option if you are found guilty. In some cases the Crown may agree to a different resolution, such as a peace bond or a different charge, but that depends on the evidence and is never guaranteed.

Is sextortion a crime in Canada?

Yes. Threatening to share someone's intimate images or information unless they pay money or send more images can be charged as extortion under section 346. Related charges may include uttering threats, criminal harassment or sharing intimate images without consent. If you are a victim, you can report it to police, stop responding, avoid paying and keep evidence such as screenshots and account details.

How long does an extortion case take in Yukon?

Many cases take several months to more than a year, especially when there is a lot of digital evidence. Under the Jordan framework, delay is presumed unreasonable if a case goes beyond 18 months in the Territorial Court of Yukon or 30 months in the Supreme Court of Yukon, subject to exceptions and any delay caused by the defence. Unreasonable delay can lead to a stay of the charge.

Do I need an extortion lawyer in Yukon?

Given the seriousness of an extortion charge, with a maximum of life imprisonment and possible immigration and travel consequences, getting legal advice early is strongly recommended. A criminal defence lawyer can help with bail, review the Crown's disclosure, look for Charter issues, and advise on your choice of court. If cost is a concern, you can apply to the Yukon Legal Services Society for legal aid.