IN- 12-year-olds involved in sexting case

4-15-2009 Indiana:

Boy could face pornography charges

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - Police are investigating another case of sexual text messages being sent between children. This time, a 12-year-old Perry Township boy could be facing felony pornography charges.

The pornographic text message was sent from a boy at Perry Meridian Sixth Grade Academy to a 12-year-old girl at Center Grove Middle School North.

The dean at Center Grove called the principal at Perry Meridian after the photos were discovered on March 13. The male student admitted taking nude pictures of himself and sending them to the girl.

Whether the boy was aware of it or not, those pictures could mean jail time and more.

"It is a felony to transmit a sexually explicit picture of a minor to another minor. What they're doing is they're not thinking ahead about the consequences of their actions. They could technically be arrested for committing a felony and ultimately end up on a sex offender registry," said IMPD Sgt. Paul Thompson.

Police said the two students were texting each other during class, but the boy didn't actually take the pictures at school and there were no other inappropriate photos on his cell phone.

IMPD is still investigating the case. Prosecutors will decide whether or not to file charges against the boy. Perry Meridian is also deciding if the student should be kicked out of school. ..News Source.. by Rob Youngblood