MA- Youths called to 'sexting' hearing

At what point will the public need a lawyer on retainer just to respond to the ill conceived sex laws of lawmakers, and also get a tax deduction for the lawyer? Our society has reached a sex crazed hysterical state!

2-13-2009 Massachusetts:

FALMOUTH — Several of the six local boys who face possible child pornography charges for allegedly "sexting" a photograph of a partially naked 13-year-old girl had a hearing in juvenile court yesterday afternoon.

The boys, ages 12 to 14, were summonsed to court after a two-week investigation by Falmouth police into whether they had passed the photo along by cellphone. The possible charges vary depending on the individual, but they include possessing or exhibiting a photograph of a child in a sexual act, distributing material of a child in a sexual act, and possession of child pornography — all felony charges.

On Wednesday, Brian Hunt, the father of one of the boys, told the Times that the photograph was of a 13-year-old girl who lifted up her shirt and exposed a portion of one breast.

Attorneys for one of the boys called the episode "hijinks" that have been overblown, and they said defense lawyers made the case that the child pornography statute doesn't apply.

"This is a case of kids playing doctor," said attorney Stephen J. Cavacca. He would not identify his client, who was walking with his mother. "The mother of the girl is supportive of this case going nowhere."

The juvenile clerk at Falmouth District Court declined to comment, but attorney Kevin Callahan said the magistrate took the case under advisement.

Brian Hunt, the father of one of the six boys, said last night in a phone interview that he had heard about the hearing in juvenile court, but that his son, Ben, 13, had not been summonsed to be there. He said he has not received a summons or heard any indication of when a hearing for his son might be scheduled.

Hunt said that he was surprised by the amount of national attention the story has received.

"Evidently, this has gone nationwide," he said.

"Inside Edition," "Dr. Phil," "The O'Reilly Factor," "Geraldo," and several local news stations all have requested interviews yesterday, he said. Dr. Phil McGraw's program offered to fly the family out to California for a taping of the show, and "O'Reilly" and "Inside Edition" each offered to fly the family to New York City for their programs, Hunt said.

Hunt said that he was told by at least one media outlet that they wanted an interview because he was the "first" parent of a student caught up in a "sexting" controversy, nationwide, to stand up and fight on behalf of the kids.

The Times could not confirm the offers with any of the shows by press time last night.

Hunt said he planned to speak with his lawyer today before committing to any of the appearance offers.

School officials became aware of the photograph when one of the boys went to a school adjustment counselor at Lawrence School, where the boys attend junior high school.

Lawrence School administrators and the facility's school resource officer have started the process of educating students about the risks of "sexting," going from classroom to classroom to discuss the risks of sending explicit photos by cell phone. ..News Source.. by George Brennan