By: Kate Pabich
kpabich@cbs4qc.com
A sexting scandal has hit Moline High. School leaders say dozens of students sent naked pictures of female classmates through text.
Educators say the pictures even made it to students at other schools.
They say both girls sent the naked photos consensually, but didn't think they would be passed around.
The Moline Police Department says after investigating, the case isn't considered criminal and hasn't filed any charges.
But School Superintendent Dave Moyer says it's a very touchy situation and educating students on the repercussions of their actions is his number one goal.
"We have policies about technology and students sign them and things like that but this kind of involves personal choices with their own devices and some students made some bad choices"
And this case is just one example of teen sexting that happens everyday. Rock Island County Sheriff Jeff Boyd says not knowing the law could land your teen in some hot water.
"A lot of the elements of that offence qualify for child pornography and when you talk about it it's not age discriminate and most offences are Class 1 Felony's punishable by 4-15 years and fine anywhere from 1-100 thousand dollars."
Boyd says it doesn't matter if a teen consents to the photo, sending or receiving pictures of a minor can get you charged with offenses like soliciting or enticing a child, and distributing child porn, which could land your kid on the sex offender registry.
"I think it's very difficult for children in general to see the forest behind the trees if you will, they also have technology at their fingertips."
And aside from the legal ramifications, officials say one nude picture gone viral can cause major psychological issues for the boy or girl in the photo. Boyd says education is the key to prevention.
"Typically mom and dad pay for it, so the way I look at it with my teens is that's my phone so I want to know what's going on and when I give that phone to them they understand the technology at their fingertips and hopefully use it in a responsible manor."
Boyd says there have been numerous other sexting investigations in Rock Island County.
