Seven middle schoolers suspended in sexting incident
The El Paso County District Attorney’s office is reviewing a sexting incident in which a nude photo was shared via cell phones that resulted in the suspension of seven middle school students in Falcon School District 49.
“The case is being reviewed,” said Shelly LaGrill, a DA executive assistant. “We are looking into the alternative of education rather than criminal action.”
Sharing a nude photo of a pre-teen, as in this case, could be considered distribution of child pornography. Under state law, juveniles convicted of such sex crimes could be jailed, fined thousand of dollars and conceivably be labeled a sex offender for life.
A 12-year-old received a photo of another pre-teen posing naked and forwarded it to a friend and then it spread to others, according to news reports.
D-49 officials have posted information on the Realities and Dangers of ‘Sexting’ on the district Web site.
They are asking parents to talk to their children about the dangers and criminal consequences of such actions, and to attend an upcoming Intention Prevention town hall meeting.
“We are glad this is attracting attention because I don’t think a lot of parents or students understand the gravity, and how bad decisions young students make can effect a young student’s entire life,” said Danielle Lindorf, D-49 board president.
Lindorf said the district regularly holds classes for students about such concerns, including internet and phone safety, and plans to have more.
“A lot of parents don’t know that they can block photos and texting from cell phones their children carry,” Lindorf said. Ironically, many parents buy cell phones for their kids for safety reasons.
Dave Watson, D-49’s safety and emergency coordinator, said district policies prohibit students from using electronic devices during the school day except in emergencies. The policy also specifically says that an such device that is is used in a manner that is “profane, indecent, or obscene or constitutes an invasion of privacy, will be subject to disciplinary action, which could include suspension/expulsion from school.”
In some areas of the country, students have been convicted as sex offenders, said Susan Payne, special agent with Colorado Department of Public Safety and founding director of Safe2Tell, a nonprofit educational program that encourages students to report threats and other issues.
Payne said studies show that 40 percent of students nationally say they have received nude pictures of classmates.
“These days some young people are comfortable taking pixtures of thmselves and showing it. So education is really important for them and their parents to understand the dangers they can face,” Payne said. “It can be devastating. Some victims have even committed suicide.”
TOWN HALL
Intention Prevention town hall meeting will be 6 p.m. Feb. 18 at Coronado High School, 1590 W. Fillmore St. The organization, started by Conspire! drug testing company, is trying to create programs to keep teens involved in positive, safe actvities. There will be presentations by Safe2Tell and public safety experts as well as presentations from a parent and a drug court graduate.
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