Crimes against Children 4-13-13

High school teacher charged with sexual assault of student, 17 - The Globe and Mail

Valley High School student arrested for sexual assault on campus - abc7.com

Man charged in sex assault of teen getting off school bus - wcvb.com

Man Indicted for Producing Child Pornography - Minneapolis 

Lexington Man Sentenced to 103 Months for Receiving Child Pornography - Louisville 

California Man Pleads Guilty to Transporting an Individual to Engage in Prostitution - Albuquerque 

Lexington man gets nearly 9 years in prison for receiving child pornography - Kentucky 

Mattydale man charged with possessing child pornography, state police say - Syracuse.com
 

Baltimore man faces 13 child porn charges - WBALTV.com 

Another Sexting Tragedy - Slate Magazine 

 

 

Crimes against Children 1-3-13 Part II

Shiloh man charged with having child porn - Belleville News Democrat

Hundreds arrested in child exploitation probe - Seattlepi

Ohio man arrested in national child porn sweep - NBC 4i

2 Pa. teens cites for sexting under new tiered law - SFGate

Man charged over child porn - Herald Sun

Hundreds arrested in ICE child exploitation probe - FOX News Politics

Logan County Man Arrested On Child Pornography Charges - NBC 4i

Former Maine prosecutor facing new charge - WMTW.com

Man Sentenced for Sexual Abuse of a Minor - Denver

Germantown Man Sentenced for Receiving, Transporting, and Possessing Child Pornography - Baltimore

Previously Convicted Child Pornographer Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Possession of Child Pornography - Baltimore 

Crimes against Children 9-2-12

Albuquerque, NM
Federal authorities say they are looking for possible victims of a New Mexico man who authorities say talked about raping and cooking children and is charged in a massive child porn investigation.

Richard Dates was ordered held Monday pending trial during a preliminary hearing in U.S. District Court in Albuquerque. The 67-year-old was charged last week with possessing child pornography in a case that began in Massachusetts with the arrest of a Sheraton hotel manager.
Dates, who worked as a Cibola Beacon reporter when he was arrested, also worked as a science teacher at Gallup McKinley County Schools from 2006 to 2011. In addition, Dates worked as a tutor in the Chicago area in the 1980s.

Bethlehem, PA

A Bethlehem man who had a video camera aimed at a school bus stop when agents raided his apartment in November pleaded guilty to child pornography charges in federal court Monday.

Thomas Syfor, 71, of the 400 block of Carlton Avenue, admitted receiving images by email depicting the sexual abuse of young boys and then sharing the photos with a man he described to federal agents as his lover.

Syfor pleaded guilty to one count each of receiving child pornography and aiding and abetting possession of child pornography in a hearing before U.S. District Judge James Knoll Gardner. The charges carry a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison. Gardner scheduled Syfor's sentencing for Feb. 22.

Also charged is Matthew Ackerman, 49, who lived with Syfor. Ackerman is scheduled to plead guilty Tuesday in federal court in Allentown.

Both men also face charges stemming from a child pornography sweep by federal officials in Virginia.

York, VA

A 42-year-old man is facing child pornography charges after a probation officer found suspicious images on a computer.

York-Poquoson Sheriff's Lt. Dennis Ivey Jr. said an investigation began Feb. 2 when a probation officer made an unannounced search of a motel room in York County where Jason L. Greenough was staying.

Ivey said a computer found in the room raised suspicions. After an "extensive investigation," he said York investigators decided to file charges against Greenough. Deputies served arrest warrants on Greenough Aug. 17, charging him with six counts of possession of child pornography first-offense.
  
Wichita, KS
A Wichita, Kan., man who enticed a 14-year-old Batavia girl into sending him naked pictures of herself through text messages was sentenced in Federal Court yesterday to more than 26 years in prison.

Shane M. McClelland, 26, Wichita, Kan., was convicted in a jury trial in May on one count of producing child pornography.

During trial, prosecutors presented evidence that McCelland used the Internet to strike up a relationship with a 14-year-old girl in Batavia.

At McClelland’s request, the girl sent photographs of herself naked to McClelland. The mother of one of the girl’s friends became aware of what happened and reported it to police.

Westfield, MA
A 56-year-old Westfield man accepted a plea agreement in federal court Tuesday to plead guilty to possession of child pornography.

Richard Starr was charged Tuesday with a single count of possession of material involving the sexual exploitation of a minor, according to the office of United States Attorney Carmen Ortiz. Starr agreed to plead guilty pursuant to a written plea agreement that was filed with the court on Tuesday.
He faces up to 10 years in prison to be followed by supervised release of at least five years as well as a fine of $250,000.

The charge was the result of an investigation that began four years ago in January 2008 when the FBI’s New England Division was alerted to an e-mail found on a website that specializes in the producing and selling videos featuring child pornography. The e-mail, which traced back to Starr’s personal e-mail address, inquired about additional videos featuring a 14-year-old girl, officials said.


 Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
An Edmonton father who created and distributed child pornography involving his infant daughter has been sentenced to 12 years in prison.

The 39-year-old, who cannot be identified to protect his daughter’s identity, began to sexually assault his daughter in 2008, when she was three years old and still in diapers. He photographed and videotaped the sexual encounters over a period of three years until he had a library of more than 200 images, many of which he shared on the Internet with other viewers of child pornography.

His crimes only stopped when he was arrested in September 2011.

KOTA Territory
A KOTA Territory judge threw the book at a 20 year old former School of Mines Student found guilty of possessing child pornography.

Vincent Taffe was sentenced to 180 days in prison and 10 years probation.

Taffe, plead guilty to one count of possessing child pornography in December and admitted to the judge that he downloaded an explicit video involving children.

His lengthy probation includes:
- Intensive sex offender treatment
- A ban from using the Internet or a cell phone that has Internet
- And no contact with minors -among many other restrictions.

Tampa, FL
The international child pornography investigation that led to the arrest of a Largo puppeteer last month has netted two more suspects accused of being part of a network of sadistic pedophiles.

Ronald William Brown, 57, had entertained Tampa-area children with his puppets for years by the time he was arrested on federal charges of conspiring to kidnap a child and possession of child pornography. Authorities said Brown collected pornographic images of children and fantasized about strangling, dismembering, cooking and cannibalizing children.

About a week after Brown's arrest, federal Homeland Security Investigations agents arrested Geoffrey Portway, a Massachusetts man they say communicated with Brown over the Internet. Last week, they arrested Richard Dates of Grant, N.M, who is accused of communicating with Portway.

Altogether, authorities have arrested 46 suspects worldwide, including 15 in the United States, as part of Operation Holitna, named for an Alaskan river with tendrils that curl off in numerous directions. Authorities say they have rescued more than 150 children victimized by the network.

Bridgewater, MA
A Bridgewater man was charged Tuesday in federal court with possession of child pornography, according to The Enterprise.

Kevin J. Balzarini, 36, was arrested and charged Tuesday in United States District Court with one count of possession of child pornography, according to U.S. Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz and Richard DesLauriers, special agent in charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division.

According to the criminal complaint affidavit, Balzarini shared an image of a 4- to 6-year-old girl in a sexually explicit pose through a peer-to-peer file sharing network over the internet with an undercover Massachusetts State Trooper on June 27.

Pittsfield, MA
A 22-year-old Pittsfield man already facing charges of raping children and forcing them to pose nude for him is facing additional charges of possession of child pornography.

The Berkshire Eagle ( http://bit.ly/O2C2wF) reports that Robert Labarre, who was living in a tent in the woods before his arrest, was arraigned on Tuesday in Berkshire Superior Court on 14 charges, including two counts of rape of a child with force.

Authorities say Labarre was supposed to take care of five children between the ages of 5 and 9 while their parents were not home. Only the 5-year-old was spared the alleged abuse.

Crimes against Children 8-16-12

Omaha, NE
A Nebraska man has been given 80 months in federal prison for distributing child pornography.

Federal prosecutors say 24-year-old Matthew McCann must serve 10 years of supervised release after he leaves prison and must pay $2,500 restitution to 1 of the people depicted in his collection of child porn.

Officers searched an Omaha residence where McCann was staying on May 9 last year. Prosecutors say McCann admitted downloading child porn daily, and investigators found more than 60 videos on McCann's computer.

Prosecutors also say FBI technicians found sexually explicit texts that McCann had sent from his cellphone to a 13-year-old girl.

Davenport, IA
A Bettendorf woman who used a minor to produce child pornography has been sentenced to 20 years in prison.

Federal prosecutors announced Wednesday that 37-year-old Amanda Diener received the 240-month prison term after pleading guilty to conspiracy to sexually exploit a child.

Prosecutors said that Diener used an unidentified female minor to whom she had access to perform sex acts, photograph them and send images to a Massachusetts man identified as Hobart Yates.
Yates and Diener also admitted that Diener performed sex acts on a live webcam that Yates watched.

San Marino, CA
A San Marino man convicted two months ago of using a hidden camera to take photos up the skirts of unsuspecting women was behind bars again Wednesday, accused of possessing child pornography.

Police arrested Justin Kerong Chen, 18, Tuesday while serving a search warrant at his home, San Marino police officials said in a written statement.

San Marino police began investigating Chen in connection with child pornography after information was developed while investigating him for different crimes earlier this year, San Marino police Detective Susana Franco said.

He was arrested in March after police found him in possession of burglary tools, as well as a "covert camera" which he had been using to take surreptitious photographs up women's skirts in public, the detective said.

Jacksonville, FL
Joshua Jay Williamson (24, Jacksonville) pled guilty today to two counts of making extortionate communications over the Internet and one count of possessing child pornography. For each of the extortion counts, Williamson faces up to two years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine. He faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine for the child pornography charge. The sentencing date for Williamson has not yet been scheduled.

According to court documents, from February 2011 through June 7, 2011, Williamson repeatedly used a computer and interactive computer services to transmit threatening communications to several female individuals over the Internet from Jacksonville. He transmitted these threatening communications with the intent to extort sexually explicit photographic images from these female victims. Williamson compromised the e-mail and social networking accounts of the female victims in an effort to gather personal information about them, including sexually suggestive and provocative photographs of them. He sent electronic communications to the victims and demanded that they send him nude and sexually explicit photos. Williamson would tell the victim that if she did not comply with his demand, he would send sexually suggestive and provocative pictures to her friends on her e-mail contact lists.

A forensic analysis of Williamson’s computer revealed folders titled in the names of nearly 150 different women. Many of the folders contained photographs of the women, as well as their personal information, including addresses, Social Security numbers, passwords, and income tax returns. Approximately 23 images and 31 videos of child pornography were also found on his computer.

Columbus, OH
A federal grand jury has returned a three-count indictment charging Todd L. Smith, 49, of Columbus, with two counts of attempted production of sexually explicit conduct of a minor and one count of coercion of a minor for sexual activity. Smith is a Columbus Police officer.

The indictment alleges that on April 14, 2012 and on May 14, 2012, Smith tried to coerce a minor to make sexually explicit videos of herself engaging in a sex act and a sexually explicit photo of herself and send them to him. Each of the counts is punishable by at least 15 years and up to 30 years in prison.

The third count charges Smith with coercion and enticement of a minor in connection with a second victim between May 1, 2012 and July 25, 2012. Smith allegedly texted the minor repeatedly and arranged to meet with her to engage in sexual activity. That crime is punishable by at least 10 years and up to life in prison.

Crimes against Children 8-9-12 Part II

Fresno, CA
A Hanford High football coach pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography.

Investigators with the Kings County district attorney's office say Eric Rodriguez, 33, had nearly ten hours of pornographic videos involving children on his home computer.

Prosecutors say some of the child porn seized involves video with classroom themes and teacher-student relationships.

Staunton, VA
A former Mary Baldwin College assistant psychology professor serving probation for possession of child pornography is facing a new charge.

The News Leader (http://bit.ly/MrNHmH) reports 44-year-old Chadwick Carter Blackwell of Woodstock was charged last month with one count of child porn possession.

Blackwell resigned from Mary Baldwin in July 2008 after a student reported seeing child porn images on his college computer.

Bangor, ME

A Fort Fairfield man who worked with an Aroostook County afterschool program has pleaded guilty to child pornography possession charges.

Jake Rogeski was held without bail pending his sentencing after entering his plea Tuesday in federal court in Bangor. He faces up to 10 years in prison at yet to be scheduled sentencing.

Prosecutors say a search of the 24-year-old Rogeski's computer turned up more than 100 video files of child pornography, and more than 400 still images of children engaged in sex acts.

The Bangor Daily News (http://bit.ly/ONue4J) reports that Rogeski was employed in a program that provided afterschool help to third through sixth-graders with their homework and provided healthful snacks and other activities.

Huntsville, AL
A 53-year-old Huntsville man was arrested on child pornography charges, thanks to a head's up from Walmart officials, according to police.

Herman Oscar Watkins was arrested Tuesday and charged with dissemination/display of child porn and production of pornography with minors after he attempted to develop photos of nude children at two area Walmart stores, police said.

Yates County, NY
Edward L. Dean, 49, was indicted by a federal grand jury in December on counts of production of child pornography and transporting a minor over state lines to engage in sexual activity.

The federal charges carry heavier penalties – 15 to 30 years for production of child pornography, and 10 years to life for transporting a minor over state lines to engage in sexual activity.
 

The evidence against Dean included a host of sexually explicit photos that Dean asked the victim to send to his cell phone by text message. Dean later sent one of the images to a friend who was “having a bad day” to “cheer” him up.

Dean also told investigators that he took the victim to Scranton, Pa. for “a trip for us to enjoy a weekend together,” like husband and wife. He said they had sex multiple times a day during the three-day trip.

The investigation by the Southern Tier Cyber Predator Task Force also found that Dean had previously sexually assaulted two other minors, and was convicted of third-degree assault in 1999 for molesting a 16-year-old girl.

Rochester, NY
A 27-year-old western New York man has been sentenced to five years in prison for receiving sexually explicit photos of a 13-year-old girl on his cell phone.

The Rochester Democrat and Chronicle reports that Chad Crowley of Clifton Springs, 30 miles southeast of Rochester, was convicted of receiving child pornography. Federal prosecutors say Crowley exchanged sexually explicit text messages with the girl in February 2011, knowing she was a minor.

Providence, RI
A former Chariho High School assistant soccer coach has been indicted by a federal grand jury on child pornography charges.

The U.S. Attorney's office in Rhode Island said a three-count indictment was returned Wednesday charging Glen Matteson with receipt, possession and distribution of child pornography.

Prosecutors say the 52-year-old from Richmond also faces state charges of indecent solicitation of a child and possession of child pornography. Those charges were brought by the Richmond police department.

Matteson was arrested by local police in February. Authorities began investigating after a parent reported that his juvenile son had received inappropriate text messages from the coach.

Washington, DC
Federal agents are looking for the public’s help in identifying a woman wanted for her alleged involvement in the production of child pornography. They are hoping her identification can lead to the rescue of at least two children.

A "Jane Doe" arrest warrant was issued for the suspect in federal court in the District of Columbia this week.

The woman is believed to be involved in pornographic videos featuring herself and an unidentified man engaging in sexual contact with two children, one thought to be 5 to 7 years old and the other 3 to 5 years old, according to a news release from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Ashland, OR

A man who distributed child pornography using Internet access at the Ashland library and coffee shops has been sentenced to 40 years in federal prison.

On Monday, U.S. District Judge Owen M. Panner sentenced Thomas William Crimmins, 54, of Ashland, to 40 years in federal prison and a lifetime of parole if he is released.

Crimmins pleaded guilty Feb. 13 to 10 felony counts of possession, mailing and distribution of child pornography.

In June 2010, a detective with the Southern Oregon High-Tech Crimes Task Force determined that Crimmins was sending child pornography to a website that enables users to share images. Crimmins used the Internet at the Ashland library and two local coffee shops to send some of the images, prosecutors said in a news release.

Court files provided by the U.S. Attorney's Office show Crimmins as an unrepentant distributor of child porn. In fact, Crimmins has stated that he sees himself as a "sexual coach" helping children to explore their natural curiosities about sex.

Statesville, NC

A former Lincolnton banker was sentenced this week to seven years and three months in prison on his 2011 guilty pleas for using Facebook to distribute child pornography.

James Paul Byrd, 40, has been in local federal custody since pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess child pornography and distribution of child pornography.

A federal grand jury in November 2010 charged Byrd and five co-defendants from across the country with using the social networking Internet site Facebook to advertise, distribute and access child pornography, according to a federal indictment.

Byrd belonged to several Facebook groups dedicated to sharing child pornography and child erotica, including groups called “girls girls girls :)” and “little girls love to play to :)”, court records show. The groups contained at least 10,000 images of child pornography and child erotic, according to court records.

Calgary, Alberta, Canada
A former security guard at the Calgary courthouse has pleaded guilty to dozens of child pornography, luring and extortion charges.

Daniel Mackie admitted that for years he would befriend boys and girls on internet sites like Facebook, get their passwords and then threaten that if they didn't send him nude photos or videos he would take over their accounts.

And sometimes he would take over their accounts, often contacting their friends or sharing any photos he had succeeded in extorting.

Police first questioned Mackie in 2008 after a teen complained.

The next year, he chatted with an undercover officer posing as a teen and asked for photos.

Read more here: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2012/08/09/3443704/former-banker-sentenced-in-child.html#storylink=rss#storylink=cpy

Crimes against Children 8-9-12

Medford, OR
U.S. District Judge Owen M. Panner sentenced Thomas William Crimmins, 54, of Ashland, Oregon, on August 6, 2012, to 40 years in federal prison for distribution of child pornography. In addition, Crimmins will be on supervised release for life after serving his prison term.


In June 2010, a detective with the Southern Oregon High-Tech Crimes Task Force (SOHTCTF) determined that Crimmins was sending child pornography to a website that allowed the user to share the images with others. Crimmins used the Internet at the Ashland Public Library and two local coffee shops to send some of the images.

On March 30, 2011, SOHTCTF detectives observed Crimmins using his laptop computer at the Ashland Public Library running the same file sharing program he used to share photographs and videos of child sexual abuse. Detectives arrested Crimmins and obtained a search warrant for his computers, finding over 1,974 images and 421 videos of child sexual abuse. A number of images were of known child victims previously identified by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC).

Agents also found evidence that Crimmins distributed the images to users across the United States and the world. Crimmins’ e-mails showed a pattern of recruiting and encouraging others to sexually abuse children. This included corresponding with individuals who identified themselves as minors and inviting them to visit him to have sex. Crimmins also e-mailed these individuals advice on how to groom children to engage in sexual activity.

“This defendant exemplifies the connection between people who view images of child sexual abuse and people who prey on children. Those of us who investigate, prosecute, and treat child sexual abuse have come to understand that child pornography is not just ‘dirty pictures,’” said U.S. Attorney Amanda Marshall. “It is documentation of the most terrible abuse you can imagine. Those who find pleasure in viewing such images pose a danger to any child unfortunate enough to come into contact with these perpetrators. The 40-year sentence in this case will ensure that this defendant can’t hurt any more children.”

New Haven, CT
David B. Fein, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that William Santiago, Jr., 27, of Middletown, was sentenced today by Senior United States District Judge Alfred V. Covello in Hartford to 41 months of imprisonment, followed by 10 years of supervised release, for possessing child pornography.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Santiago used a peer-to-peer Internet file sharing program to download images of child pornography. On October 15, 2009, agents with the Connecticut Computer Crimes Task Force conducted a court-authorized search of Santiago’s residence and seized Santiago’s laptop computer and other computer-related evidence. Forensic analysis of the seized computer revealed at least 15 images files and 22 video files depicting child pornography, including images of children under the age of 12 engaged in sexual conduct.
On November 9, 2011, Santiago waived his right to indictment and pleaded guilty to one count of possession of child pornography.

Binghamton, NY
United States Attorney Richard S. Hartunian announced that as a result of an investigation conducted by the Southern Tier Cyber Predator Task Force (STCPTF) defendant Brandon Himko, 26, of Johnson City, New York, pleaded guilty today in Federal Court in Binghamton, New York. Defendant Himko pleaded guilty to receiving material involving the sexual exploitation of a minor in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 2252(a)(2) & (b)(1).

During the plea proceeding, defendant Himko admitted the following facts. In December 2011, Brandon Himko contacted a 16-year-old girl (hereinafter the Victim) via the social networking site called Facebook. Himko and the Victim chatted online via Facebook. Himko next commenced to communicate with the Victim via texting from his cellular telephone to her cellular telephone. The Victim informed defendant that she was only 16 years of age. Defendant and the Victim exchanged hundreds of text messages to each other in December 2011 via cellular telephones. Many of the text messages exchanged between defendant and the Victim were sexual in nature and involved sexual content. Also in December 2011, Himko, using his cellular telephone camera, photographed his penis and sent the images of his penis to the Victim via texting SMS/MMS on his cellular telephone.

The Victim received the images of Himko’s penis on her cellular telephone as sent by Himko. Himko requested that the Victim send him sexually explicit images of herself. In December 2011, the Victim, using her cellular telephone camera, photographed a close-up of her vagina and sent the image of her vagina to Himko via texting SMS/MMS on her cellular telephone. Himko received the image of the Victim’s vagina on his cellular telephone as sent by the Victim. Himko saved the image of the Victim’s vagina to Himko’s Sprint picture mail account where he could access and view it through his Sprint account. Thereafter, Himko requested that the Victim send him additional sexually explicit images of herself via her cellular telephone. At all times in December 2011 while Himko communicated with the Victim, Himko was a level-3 registered sex offender and was registered with the New York State Sex Offender Registry. Himko’s sex offender registration resulted from his April 11, 2008 felony conviction for rape in the Second Degree. Himko’s prior conviction stemmed from a rape of a minor.

Sexting - Be Careful of Studies

Sexting is a very real issue facing our teens today, and a means is needed to help teach our teens its dangers. 

The NSPCC (National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children) conducted a study in the UK on the subject with some interesting findings.

• The primary technology-related threat comes from peers, not 'stranger danger'
• Sexting is often coercive
• Girls are the most adversely affected
• Technology amplifies the problem by facilitating the objectification of girls
• Sexting reveals wider sexual pressures
• Ever younger children are affected
• Sexting practices are culturally specific
• More support and resources are vital to redress the gendered sexual pressures on young people.

On the surface this seems to be right on.  And in many cases, studies like this can provide us with great information.

But, beware of the twisting of a study's findings by authors with an agenda.  That agenda can alter the true message of the study, and take it to places that will only cloud the truly important thing, the protection of our children.

For example, Sally Broughton Micova wrote a blog on the report that strays from the reports findings.  But she lets out that she has a specific agenda early on when she writes, "We need to move away from a focus on ‘stranger danger’ and the abstract threat of pornography on the internet."  The first part matches the findings above, but the last part does not.  Labeling the threat of pornography on the Internet as "abstract" minimizes its danger to children.

She goes on to assert that, "We must find ways to encourage young people’s confidence and well-being about their physical bodies and sexuality."  This overlooks that youth engage in sexting because of an existing misplaced confidence about their physical bodies and sexuality.

The final piece of evidence comes with Ms. Micova's statement, "We need resources that offer practical and ethical ways to challenge and overturn the sexual double standard whilst empowering both girls and boys, considering the sexual health and pleasure of all young people as a right."

Clearly the two statements above do not come from the listed findings of the study.  The study by the NSPCC has resulted in some interesting findings, but establishing the "sexual health and pleasure of all young people as a right" was not one of them.

My point?  If a blogger or journalist tells you about a study, look for yourself, or at least be aware of possible bias.

The protection of children is too important to leave to other agendas.

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Sexting: A Problem Ignored by Many

In a previous BLOG POST, I posted a link to a story about a study that showed one in five teens have sent sexually explicit photos with their cell phones.

From the study itself:
"Nearly 20% of all participants reported they had ever sent a sexually explicit image of themselves via cell phone while almost twice as many reported that they had ever received a sexually explicit picture via cell phone and, of these, over 25% indicated that they had forwarded such a picture to others.  Of those reporting having sent a sexually explicit cell phone picture, over a third did so despite believing that there could be serious legal and other consequences attached to the behavior."
REPORT

Several years ago, I had a very shaken student come to me to show me a picture he had received on his cell phone.  It was a picture of a fully naked girl from our school.  Realizing I was looking at a crime, I contacted the police.  The girl was withdrawn from school during a full investigation.  It was a shame.  She was very popular, and it was a bit of a scandal at the time.

A theme that seems to be recurring with me is that kids may be good, but their judgement is often suspect, which is why we don't put them in charge of life-or-death decisions.  Give them a cell phone, and they have the means to instantly convey their sometimes irresponsible behavior.

Schools can educate children on the consequences, but as over a third of those who sent sexually explicit pictures knew the consequences and did it anyway, the school is left with the function I exercised in my situation.  Reporting to authorities.

Parents have a large role to play in this matter.  They are implicitly responsible for the actions of their children, and should act accordingly.  Randomly go through the pictures on your child's phone.  Talk to them about the consequences.  Know the phone numbers of the people who are calling your child. Check your phone bills for repeated texts from certain numbers.  Be aware, and be there for your child should they come to you with an issue involving inappropriate pictures.

The consequences of not getting involved can be serious, as child pornography is a federal crime.

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One in Five Teens 'Sexting' Photos, Often without a Clue to the Risks

NY Daily News
A new study, announced on Wednesday, finds that nearly one in five teens have sent sexually explicit photos on their mobile phone -- many of them with little or no awareness of the possible psychological, social, and sometimes legal consequences of doing so.

In the study, Donald Strassberg and his team at the University of Utah recruited 606 students from a private high school in the southwest US who completed a questionnaire about their experiences of sexting and their understanding of what consequences they believed were associated with being caught sexting.