3 arrested after teen's nude photo sweeps through schools
LACEY, Wash. - Police say three teens were arrested after they sent a naked photo of a 14-year-old girl in a text message that went viral across Thurston County.
The naked image was forwarded to dozens of students in four different middle schools, and now the victim and her mother say they are devastated by what happened.
Police believe it all started as a prank - but now the three teens face potentially serious consequences if they are charged and convicted.
"Juveniles who are committing certain types of sexual crimes do have to register as sex offenders, but certainly that is the most serious sanction that would go along with this charge - if they were to be found to be ... guilty," said Rick Peters of the Thurston County Prosecutor's Office.
According to police, one of the boys sent a naked picture of his 14-year-old ex-girlfriend by cell phone to two 13-year-old girls, who forwarded it on to others.
The three teens have not yet been charged, but Thurston County prosecutors say the three could face child pornography charges and, if convicted, serve up to a month in detention.
While the legal wheels turn, the girl's mother and her daughter are distraught over what has happened.
"She was embarrassed, hurt - I'm sure she felt betrayed by the person she sent the picture too," says the girl's mother, Toni.
Toni says her 14-year-old daughter - out of a lack of self esteem and confusion - sent her then-boyfriend a naked picture of herself.
"I think she was looking for someone to care about her and love her," Toni says.
On Monday - one week after they broke up - police say a group of students coaxed the ex-boyfriend into sending them the photo - and it went viral.
"From there is started exploding," says Lt. Matt Koehler of the Lacey police. "Those people started forwarding it, and a lot of people got the photo."
By Tuesday morning, students at all four middle schools in the North Thurston School District got the naked photo, police say.
A student at Chinook Middle School reported it - and the school called police. The former boyfriend and two 13-year-old girls were arrested.
The school district is using the incident as an opportunity to teach students the consequences of "sexting" - one click on the send button can hurt you or someone forever. A letter went home Thursday with every student.
"It's a serious crime. They can go to jail for this. Their lives can be impacted forever," said Courtney Schrieve of North Thurson Public Schools.
It's a crime to distribute sexually explicit photos of a minor.
Toni says her daughter, who was planning to transfer to a new school before this happened, is "definitely" transferring to a new school district.
"I was extremely surprised that the kids seemed to not care how it affected her," Toni says.
KOMO News is not releasing the names of any of the teens involved because they are minors.
All three teens who were arrested are back home with their parents. They are scheduled to be charged Friday.
The naked image was forwarded to dozens of students in four different middle schools, and now the victim and her mother say they are devastated by what happened.
Police believe it all started as a prank - but now the three teens face potentially serious consequences if they are charged and convicted.
"Juveniles who are committing certain types of sexual crimes do have to register as sex offenders, but certainly that is the most serious sanction that would go along with this charge - if they were to be found to be ... guilty," said Rick Peters of the Thurston County Prosecutor's Office.
According to police, one of the boys sent a naked picture of his 14-year-old ex-girlfriend by cell phone to two 13-year-old girls, who forwarded it on to others.
The three teens have not yet been charged, but Thurston County prosecutors say the three could face child pornography charges and, if convicted, serve up to a month in detention.
While the legal wheels turn, the girl's mother and her daughter are distraught over what has happened.
"She was embarrassed, hurt - I'm sure she felt betrayed by the person she sent the picture too," says the girl's mother, Toni.
Toni says her 14-year-old daughter - out of a lack of self esteem and confusion - sent her then-boyfriend a naked picture of herself.
"I think she was looking for someone to care about her and love her," Toni says.
On Monday - one week after they broke up - police say a group of students coaxed the ex-boyfriend into sending them the photo - and it went viral.
"From there is started exploding," says Lt. Matt Koehler of the Lacey police. "Those people started forwarding it, and a lot of people got the photo."
By Tuesday morning, students at all four middle schools in the North Thurston School District got the naked photo, police say.
A student at Chinook Middle School reported it - and the school called police. The former boyfriend and two 13-year-old girls were arrested.
The school district is using the incident as an opportunity to teach students the consequences of "sexting" - one click on the send button can hurt you or someone forever. A letter went home Thursday with every student.
"It's a serious crime. They can go to jail for this. Their lives can be impacted forever," said Courtney Schrieve of North Thurson Public Schools.
It's a crime to distribute sexually explicit photos of a minor.
Toni says her daughter, who was planning to transfer to a new school before this happened, is "definitely" transferring to a new school district.
"I was extremely surprised that the kids seemed to not care how it affected her," Toni says.
KOMO News is not releasing the names of any of the teens involved because they are minors.
All three teens who were arrested are back home with their parents. They are scheduled to be charged Friday.
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