VA- Four Bedford County teens charged in “sexting” case

4-21-2009 Virginia:

Four Staunton River high school students, all underage, are charged with misdemeanors after an alleged “sexting” case.

“Sexting” is basically slang for when teens take nude, or in this case partially nude, photos on camera phones.

One of the teens is also accused of sending at least one of the pictures through a text message, making it a felony child pornography charge.

If convicted, the teen could be forced to register as a sex offender wherever he moves for the rest of his life.

A search warrant on file in Bedford County circuit court claims the police investigation into what happened started on March 30th.

School administrators found two pictures of one of the juveniles posing topless on Staunton River high school property, according to the search warrant.

The court papers allege administrators called in a school resource officer to investigate.

The officer later found another phone with a second juvenile on it posing topless for at least eleven pictures, according to the search warrant.

The court records show police confiscated at least two camera phones.

Investigators declined to go into much detail about the case since it deals with juveniles and is pending. ..News Source.. by Scott Leamon