IA- Sexting teen ends up on sex offender registry

At the stroke of midnight, a boy becomes a man, and is held to a different standard. Unfortunately, his manual makes no mention of that moment or the responsibilities that attach to manhood. One would think that, those who are adults (Judges) and allegedly have wisdom, would recognize that -stroke of midnight moment- and make decisions that do not destroy lives.. But,.... Would they if it were their own?

9-24-2009 Iowa:

The Iowa Supreme Court has sent a strong message about "sexting."

Sexting is the practice of sending nude or semi-nude photos through cell phone text messages. Pat Trueman, special counsel for the Alliance Defense Fund, says the most recent ruling stemmed from a 2005 case involving 18-year-old Jorge Canal.

"This was a serious offense. He was producing obscenity and distributing obscenity, and to a minor at that," he notes.

The girl receiving the pictures was 14 years old. Canal's attorney appealed a jury verdict to the Iowa Supreme Court, and the court agreed that the pictures involved obscenity and upheld the decision. Canal received probation.

"But he also has to register as a sex offender -- and [he] may be on that sex offender registry for a lifetime," Trueman adds. "So if anyone had any doubts, sexting is a very serious crime -- and kids better get to know that."

The court concluded that even though the girl asked for the pictures, Canal still had a legal obligation not to send them. ..Source.. by Charlie Butts - OneNewsNow