Sexting becoming serious problem
By Mark Harrison
The Times-Journal
Published February 24, 2010
The actions of a 14-year-old DeKalb County girl has resulted in the arrests of about a dozen people so far, mostly in Louisiana.
DeKalb Sheriff’s Major Crimes Unit Commander Wade Hill said the girl took nude pictures of herself using a cell phone camera, then forwarded the photos to an adult male in Louisiana who she had met online.
That man, who Hill did not identify, in turn forwarded the racy photos to his brother who, in turn, forwarded them to a number of his friends. Hill said an investigation into the matter is ongoing and additional arrests are expected.
He said the practice of children sending nude photos or sexually explicit messages by way of cell phone texts – commonly known as “sexting” – is a growing phenomenon in DeKalb County.
Hill said the sheriff’s department currently has 15 open cases related to children between the ages of 12-15 transmitting nude photos of themselves by way of cell phones. He said both the children and the people receiving the photos, even if they are unsolicited, could be found guilty of local, state and even federal crimes.
“People need to understand that this is transmission and possession of child pornography,” Hill said. “One of the most severe crimes is transmission of child pornography. If it’s sent by phone or computer, that’s a federal offense. Juveniles can be charged. These kids need to understand that if they are under 16 and sending out nude pictures of themselves, they are sending out child pornography, and this could result in their arrest and incarceration.”
According to District Attorney Mike O’Dell, any production of obscene material is a Class A felony in Alabama and would carry with it 10 years to life in prison for adults. An adult with nude photos of a minor could also bring up to 10 years in prison. He said a minor could be charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor if found with obscene pictures on a cell phone.
“Parents have got to get more involved and see what their children are doing,” Sheriff Jimmy Harris said. “And anyone who receives a photo or sexually explicit text that is unsolicited should make a report to their local police department or to the sheriff’s department.”
Hill said he also encourages parents to monitor their children’s Internet activity and make sure children know that anyone they encounter online has the potential to be a predator.
“We have kids that are making very bad decisions at a very young age,” Hill said. “And these actions carry consequences that could follow them for the rest of their lives.”
Something to think about Lauderdale Board of Education.
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