MI- Online prank ends with child porn charges for teen

2-24-2006 Michigan:

WAYLAND (NEWS 3) - It may have started as a prank, but police in Wayland have another name for Ryan Zylstra's decision to take pictures of classmates having sex: a felony.

The 17-year old was arrested and charged with manufacturing, distributing, and using a computer for child pornography.

Investigators say the trouble began New Year's Eve. Zylstra began taking pictures during a party at his Wayland home. Among the snapshots was a photo of two classmates having sex. Police say the Wayland Union High School senior then posted the picture on a website.

"Some of these photographs or printed pictures were passed around during the lunch break at Wayland High School," Police Chief Dan Miller told News 3. "In talking through, some of the students actually thought it was kind of a joke originally," said Smith.

But police aren't laughing. They say the mother of the 16-year-old girl caught on camera says her daughter tried killing herself after learning the picture became public.

And, police say because both teens in the picture were under 18, the photo constitutes child pornography. "I don't really relish, like the fact that my daughter’s in the same school with someone like this. Even though it's a prank, it's a serious prank," Smith said.

But around Wayland, reaction to the charges is mixed.

"He put pictures that shouldn't have been on there, but people should be allowed to put any pictures on there," said Josh Jones, a freshman at Wayland High.

Ashlie Hollis, a 2003 Wayland graduate, feels no pity for Zylstra. "He hurt somebody and he basically disgraced her. I mean, that's horrible. You don't do that to somebody," Hollis said.

Meanwhile, the police chief hopes this case serves as a warning to parents. "If they see them on the computer, ask them what they're doing. If they've heard of these other websites, these blogs or whatever, ask them what they're putting on or make them show them what they're putting on," said Miller.

Zylstra is free on bail. He's scheduled to appear before a judge next month. ..News Source.. by Scott Noll, News 3 Reporter



Teen put sex pics of friends online, police say

2-23-2006 Michigan:

WAYLAND -- A Wayland Union High School student faces three felony charges for allegedly taking photographs of two juveniles having sex, posting them from the Internet and linking to them from the popular Xanga web site, allegedly prompting a student in the photos to attempt suicide. Ryan Andrew Zylstra, 17, has been arrested on charges of manufacturing child pornography, distributing child pornography and use of a computer for child pornography.

Wayland Police say Zylstra took photos of a male teen and female teen "engaged in sexual activity" at Zylstra's home on New Year's Eve. Police say Zylstra linked to the photos from his blog site on Xanga, and students printed the photos and passed them out at school on Jan. 3, the day students returned after the holiday break. According to the police report, the mother of the girl in the photos said her daughter came home from school and attempted suicide because of her embarrassment.

The mother reported the incident to police Jan. 16, and police confiscated two computers from Zylstra's home. Police sought a warrant and Zylstra turned himself in Wednesday evening. He is to be arraigned March 6 in Allegan District Court. The Xanga site has been at the center of controversy recently elsewhere in West Michigan. Twenty East Grand Rapids High School students were suspended from extra-curricular activities for two weeks after photos of them drinking alcohol were posted on various Internet blog sites, including Xanga. ..Source.. by Jean Gallup, The Grand Rapids Press