Girl, 14, arrested for posting nude MySpace pics

[rbhudelson]

This was shocking to me. Evidently, Law Enforcement has decided that "real" child predators are too hard to catch so now they have decided to go after kids sending stupid pictures and text messages to each other. I will be having a talk with my teenage boys to make sure they understand that if any of this is going on to end it now before they are arrested and charged with child pornography - and branded a sex offender for the rest of their lives.




TRENTON, N.J. - A 14-year-old New Jersey girl has been accused of child pornography after posting nearly 30 explicit nude pictures of herself on MySpace.com — charges that could force her to register as a sex offender if convicted.

The case comes as prosecutors nationwide pursue child pornography cases resulting from kids sending nude photos to one another over cell phones and e-mail. Legal experts, though, could not recall another case of a child porn charge resulting from a teen's posting to a social networking site.

MySpace would not comment on the New Jersey investigation, but the News Corp.-owned company has a team that reviews its network for inappropriate images. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children tipped off a state task force, which alerted the Passaic County Sheriff's Office.

The office investigated and discovered the Clifton resident had posted the "very explicit" photos of herself, sheriff's spokesman Bill Maer said Thursday.

"We consider this case a wake-up call to parents," Maer said. The girl posted the photos because "she wanted her boyfriend to see them," he said.

Investigators are looking at individuals who "knowingly" committed a crime, he said, declining to comment further because the case is still being investigated.

The teen, whose name has not been released because of her age, was arrested and charged with possession of child pornography and distribution of child pornography. She was released to her mother's custody.

If convicted of the distribution charge, she would be forced to register with the state as a sex offender under Megan's Law, said state Attorney General Anne Milgram. She also could face up to 17 years in jail, though such a stiff sentence is unlikely.

Some observers — including the New Jersey mother behind the creation of Megan's Law — are criticizing the trend of prosecuting teens who send racy text messages or post illicit photos of themselves.

Maureen Kanka — whose daughter, Megan, became the law's namesake after she was raped and killed at age 7 in 1994 by a twice-convicted sex offender — blasted authorities for charging the 14-year-old girl.

The teen needs help, not legal trouble, she said.

"This shouldn't fall under Megan's Law in any way, shape or form. She should have an intervention and counseling, because the only person she exploited was herself."

Called "sexting" when it's done by cell phone, teenagers' habit of sending sexually suggestive photos of themselves and others to one another is a nationwide problem that has confounded parents, school administrators and law enforcers.

Prosecutors in states including Pennsylvania, Connecticut, North Dakota, Ohio, Utah, Vermont, Virginia and Wisconsin have tried stop it by charging teens who send and receive the pictures.

In northeastern Pennsylvania, a prosecutor recently threatened to file child porn charges against three teenage girls who authorities say took racy cell-phone pictures that ended up on classmates' cell phones.

The MySpace case may be a first, though.

"I'm not sure I've seen a prosecution like this coming out of a social networking site," said Seth Kreimer, a constitutional law professor at the University of Pennsylvania.

Milgram, the attorney general, could not recall another such case in New Jersey. She cautioned parents to get on those sites and monitor what their kids are talking about and posting.

"Unfortunately, youth don't have the same judgment as adults," she said, "and often, adults don't have the same technical savvy as the youth."

[Magic Medicine]

Unbelievable??????

[LaughingCat]

So she could be branded a sex offender for posting nude photos of herself. Sounds similar to being charged with attempted murder for a failed suicide attempt.

Sweet jesus, when will the legal system's wastefulness stop?

[LaughingCat]

And Phragle, when you are done with the photos, don't post them.

[Dude! Sweet!]

I keep seeing this headline (as mentioned there's been several treatened prosecutions on this) and I'm convinced now more than ever that the whole F'ing world has gone completely insane.

I agree with Delson's post. This prosecution is akin to saying a woman wanted to be raped for dressing provocatively.

Think about all the stupid sh*t we did when we were kids that would keep us from voting and owning firearms if we'd done them now... I mean the kids should be smarter than this, but they're not.

And then, top that off with the relatively light sentences and high recidivism rate of REAL sex offenders...

It's a shame that people threw common sense and personal responsiblity in the toilet.

[clayinaustin]

Total insanity. Just another abuse of power by a zealous government agency. Instead of going after rapests, they target troubled 14-yo girls.

[Magic Medicine]

Total insanity. Just another abuse of power by a zealous government agency. Instead of going after rapests, they target troubled 14-yo girls.

Cause they can't solve the real crimes. Where i live its easier to get away with murder than a dui. I don't think they have solved a homicide case in 15 years???

[Sea-Dated]

Total insanity. Just another abuse of power by a zealous government agency. Instead of going after rapests, they target troubled 14-yo girls.

[Buoy]

Geez, this is ridiculous.
C'mon, how old were you before you saw a boobee??
So, it's OK for a 14yr old to get pregnant, and we'll put them on Gov't assistance to help care for the kid.
But, if they show someone there giblets in a picture they become a sex offender?
Seems kind of like a contradiction.
Actually doing the act and having a kid=Gov't money
Taking a picture=Gov't fine, and at least community service, if not incarceration or detention.

Why do you think the Polaroid camera was so popular?? It took chitty pictures at best. It was to take naked pictures.
Now with the digital... It's gotten quicker and easier, and much better quality.

Not that I think a 14yr old should be taking naked pics in the first place, but this sounds more like a parenting issue than a criminal issue.

[rainmn]

So she could be branded a sex offender for posting nude photos of herself. Sounds similar to being charged with attempted murder for a failed suicide attempt.

That was exactly what I said to my wife about this story earlier today.

[Perlmudder]

if the government saw the txt messages i send to friends... uhoh!

this is crazy though. blame the parents, not the child.

[Jammin']

[Playn]

total insanity. Just another abuse of power by a zealous government agency. Instead of going after rapests, they target troubled 14-yo girls.

x3

[Scarab KV]

As stupid as this is, I'd still be pi$$ed as hell if my daughter was do'n it

[BobOnThis]

Thats nutty..Could you imagine if this girl hit the wrong # and sent it to you! Damn..you would be in a whole bunch of trouble and have no idea what was going on. I just say this because I get this person who text me about twice a week and I have wrote back saying wrong # and even called and they don't answer. No pictures though..but with my luck I could just imagine!

[Scarab KV]

Thats nutty..Could you imagine if this girl hit the wrong # and sent it to you! Damn..you would be in a whole bunch of trouble and have no idea what was going on. I just say this because I get this person who text me about twice a week and I have wrote back saying wrong # and even called and they don't answer. No pictures though..but with my luck I could just imagine!

Oh $hit...never even thought of that. I receive 10-15 text and v-mail messages a week for the previous person who had my cell number. That could look really bad

[Chris]

I taught my kids this from very early on...

If you say it or write it, assume everyone will either hear it or see it. Rest assured I'll know about it.

My college-aged son was a high school freshman at the time- he was instant messaging a friend about thie Friday night plans. My wife had just left to take him to his pal's house, but he left the computer on. I hear it beeping and go into his room. His pal doesn't know my son is on the way- he's still messaging. Since my son isn't responding to his texts, he decides to write some pretty profane stuff. So I sit down and type- "Hey Randy. It's Jake's dad. His mom is on the way with him now- he'll be there in a few minutes."

Keep in mind, his father is one of my best friends.

30 seconds later my cellphone is ringing- it's my son. Randy had just called him in a major panic. He thought it was my son pulling a prank. When he found out it wasn't, he went into full-panic mode. Another couple minutes passed. The messenger beeps again.

"Mr. Sunkin? I'm really sorry. You're not going to tell my dad, are you?"

"Randy, I was 15 once, and really stupid too. But not as f.ucking stupid as you. I'm guessing you've learned your lesson, right?"

Now this is a kid I saw 3 times a week since he was two. It took 6 months before he came out of hiding. I don't think he ever got any smarter though.

[Scarab KV]

Hee hee...my daughter was never too bright when it came to leav'n IM's open. She really never did figure out how we knew so much.

[boostbros]

by going after all the prostatots sexting each other they are diluting the whole sex offender registry to a meaning less list ......how to shoot your foot!....provide hard core sex offenders a stead supply of underage kids i hope someone wakes up and realizes what their doing to underage kids

[Perlmudder]

that is why i have a lock on my laptop haha. after 20 minutes it locks it and you have to enter a pw to get back into windows.