(Published in the Fall/Winter of 2010 Newsletter)
A story that's becoming more common: What starts as innocent text messaging between teenagers turns sexual. Soon the messaging, photos, or videos make their way to authorities. Next, the teenagers are charged with possession of child pornography with the risk of prison and a sex-offender label.
A typical situation might look like this: a teenage boy, we'll call "Jack" texts a message to a 13 or 14-year-old girl, we'll call "Jill." Eventually, their texting turns sexual in nature, and Jack asks the girl to send him a partially nude photo. Jill complies, but Jack then demands a fully nude photo or else he will forward the partially nude photo to his friends. Jill agrees and sends the photo. Afterwards, Jill reports the matter to her school administrators. Jack confesses after the principal finds Jill's photo on Jack's phone. Jack is then arrested on child pornography charges. Jack now faces possible adult criminal charges, prison, and a permanent criminal and sex offender record.
Police will not look the other way when "sexting" occurs. Typically, the crime is child pornography even if they take their own picture and send it to someone. Consider the following advice for your teenager:
•1. Do not assume anything sent or posted by text or email will remain private;
•2. Anything sent or posted in cyberspace will never truly go away;
•3. Consider the recipient's reaction to what you send;
•4. Nothing sent is truly anonymous.
Monitor your teenager's phone for improper messages. If your teenager is accused of a crime, call a Pennsylvania criminal defense attorney before you do anything else and even before you speak to the police. Call our criminal defense attorneys for help.
Menges & McLaughlin, P.C.
www.YourLawFirmForLife.com
NOTE: The contents of this Newsletter are not intended to be, nor should they be taken as, specific legal advice as each situation is different. Please contact a lawyer with any questions you may have.
The attorneys at Menges & McLaughlin, P.C. can help. Contact us now by calling, toll free, 1-866-464-5297.
