Three Fairfax County high school students made cellphone videos of drunken sex acts with fellow teens and shared them among themselves, authorities said. When they go on trial Thursday, they face a charge usually reserved for adult predators: child pornography.
The case is one of a number in Virginia where teens caught “sexting” have been charged with a felony that can carry a sentence of 20 years in prison and could require registry as a sex offender.
In Virginia, Maryland and many other states, the law has not caught up with the combustible mix of teens, technology and sex that has made sexting an issue. Prosecutors must rely on a patchwork of laws created before the rise of smartphones to handle such cases.
Some parents and rights groups are calling for a new law that would distinguish sexting from child pornography, create lesser punishments and focus on educating teenagers, not punishing them. But they also acknowledge that young victims can be devastated when embarrassing photos or videos are spread among their peers.
Kids will be kids? Stupid is as stupid does? I want these kids to feel some pain…big pain. I am not sure I want them to go to prison. That seems a little harsh. Once again, perhaps the schools can pick up the slack and tell these knuckleheads about the penalties involved in doing something like this.
Do they still have reform schools? Where do bad-asses get sent if they aren’t 18? The simple solution is not to get drunk and disorderly. I guess that’s too simple.
So cyber-buds…do we send the little pervs to reform school, prison, or slap them on the wrist and tell them not to do it again?
PS there is no opening picture. I tried to find something and ended up totally grossed out.
UPDATE:
Some of the teens were found guilty. Further Reading…click here.
These little brats sound to me like rapists in training. I hope their punishment is severe.
Conduct a public trial. If they have violated the Commonwealth’s laws, then place them on probation. In addition and if the State hasn’t done so already, create a juvenile sex offender list that would be open to court approved agencies only (schools, law enforcement, social services, etc.). Also have their school institute training that focuses on the definitions of “child pornography” and the consequences that breaking those laws can have on an individual. Lastly, ban the participants from possessing a cell phone or privately owned electronic device on school property for a the remaining time that they are in they are that school system.
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Sounds like tough love to me.
I can’t just put this in the kids will be kids category becuase of the harm it does to the victims.
Let’s not forget that there are real consequences to this supposed teen activity–
http://news.yahoo.com/official-school-couldnt-expel-accused-teens-231728541.html;_ylt=Ajrisv1qRV.GWjTAGsCP6.QJVux_;_ylu=X3oDMTIxYmdxZ282BG1pdANBVFQgV2lkZ2V0cm9uIEhvbWUgMDMyMDEzBHBvcwM4BHNlYwNNZWRpYUF0dFdpZGdldHJvbkFzc2VtYmx5;_ylg=X3oDMTFkcW51ZGliBGludGwDdXMEbGFuZwNlbi11cwRwc3RhaWQDBHBzdGNhdANob21lBHB0A3BtaA–;_ylv=3?bcmt_s=m#ugccmt-container
Wow, what a long link.
Absolutey, Clinton! What a sad story. I think the school was wrong.
Moon,
When you look at the recent stories where electronic images of assaults perpetrated on drunken teen girls were a component of the crime, harsh penalties need to be imposed as a deterrant. The rape case in Ohio. The one in CA, where the victim later hanged herself. These kids don’t realize that the electronic ether is eternal, and viral. Start hammering these kids for what is clearly a crime, and hopefully others will think twice.
I want to lower the hammer. I just am not sure a 15 year old needs to go to prison for 15 years. I want something severe though. I think expulsion should be part of the punishment. How are kids punished by the law now? I think BS had some good ideas. I am just not sure how to enforce them.
TP-ing someone;s house falls into the kids will be kids category. Sexting someone else does not. I also don’t care if that kid goes on the sex offender’s list. Perhaps they could come off in 10 years with a clean record.
@Moon-howler
Expulsion only applies to what happens in school, or at a school function. Criminal penalties need to apply to those times and places outside of school. The basement parties and such. Should the age of the perp be considered? Yes. We do that for other crimes as well. But the penalties, whatever they are, need to be severe. Producing, distributing, and posessing. A girl or a guy who thinks it would be fun to photograph themselves or others, is guilty of producing. If they send photos of themselves to others, that’s distributing. Holding the images on a phone, or PC is possessing. Doesn’t matter if they were the actual subjects and willfully engaged. It’s still a crime. If, as in the cases I mentioned above, the subject is a victim, and the production, distribution, and possession is part of a larger crime, well then add all the miltipliers and kickers to make the punishment severe. Only way to prevent this is to make the consequences real.
I don’t disagree. My original premise did not include wrist slapping. I am just not sure what I would do to them. I odn’t know what the law allows.
I think strong lessons need to be learned and early. Taking pictures of drunks and floating them about is almost a form of soul rape or something.
I just think expulsion should be part of it. No hiding out in school where the perps can be big cheese.
I have a question.
If Sexting a picture of yourself to someone else is illegal, is being naked with them ALSO illegal? Making out is going to put a lot of people in jail.
I do understand the problem though. Digital is forever and can be copied endlessly.
So, how do we now educate our kids to be modest?
If you figure that out…re modesty…let me know. I am related to some folks thaat need to take the class.
@Cargosquid
Two minors “being naked” or “making out” doesn’t constitute a crime, as long as it is consensual. However, if one of the two is an adult, and/or the acts are nonconsensual, then there’s other crimes to deal with. However, photographs of a minor in a state of undress is a crime, if the purpose of the photograph is to “excite, arrouse, or titilate” the viewer. Deseminating or possessing is also a crime, regardless of the material is produced by the minor subject. This should be part of the larger discussion of modesty, we should be having with kids.
I am speaking ONLY of minors.
Anything involving minors and adults…… there should be rubber hoses involved.