Teen Faces Child Porn Charges for Sending Nude Cell Phone Pics of Self   - 13,094 Views, 4 Comments

A teenaged girl is facing felony child pornography charges after sending nude cell phone pictures (a practice now known as “sexting”) of herself to classmates. The teen, from (really, we couldn’t make this up) Licking Valley High, was charged with, among other things, illegal use of a minor in nudity-oriented material (the cell phone pics), as well as possession of criminal tools.

Now let’s be clear - wrong or not - the minor she “illegally used” was herself. And, if convicted, she could be forced to register as a sex offender for as many as 20 years!

In addition, the students to whom she sent the cell phone pics of herself naked could also face criminal prosection for possession of child pornography!

Stranger, apparently the Licking County Prosecutor’s Office has been going from school to school, giving a presentation on the dangers of inappropriate cell phone use, and warning students of the dire consequences to which such use can lead - including the threat of 20 years in prison if convicted of possessing nude cell phone pictures; and immediately after their presentation at Licking Valley High School, school officials pulled this girl aside and “specifically warned her to take heed.” The incident in which she sent the naked cell phone pictures took place about a month later.

Why school officials felt that they needed to personally warn her specifically is not yet known. Why the Licking County Prosecutor’s Office is spending taxpayer money on threatening high school students with 20 years in the slammer for possession of nude cell phone pictures if also not yet known. Does Licking County have a rabid naked teen cell phone picture swapping ring problem?

When interviewed about the incident, Licking Valley High principal Wes Weaver said “It was kind of a reminder. Maybe now is a good time to talk to your kids about cell phones.”

That’s a good idea - I was planning on having a talk about the dangers of unprotected sex and recreational drug use, but I’ll clear that schedule and use the time to talk to my child about cell phones, instead.