Union Student Arrested Raises Concern Over Cell Phones and Teens - KTUL.com - Tulsa, Oklahoma - News, Weather & Sports
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You expect pranks in high schools. But this time, what some might consider a joke, deputies considered a crime.
The 18-year old student was arrested for allegedly taking a picture of another--younger student using the bathroom--and then tweeting the picture out.
The suspected student is being held without bond--and charged with intent to distribute child porn--and peeping tom with electronic device, making child porn, and computer crimes.
Channel 8's Kim Jackson says this case is a reminder that parents need to know the law.
You may not realize it, but cell phones are actually considered computers, by law enforcement. Users can browse the Internet, take, store and distribute pictures.
In this case, an 18 year old student reportedly took a photo of a minor student using the bathroom. That constituted the peeping tom charge. There was a child involved--a phone and when he allegedly tweeted the photo out, that was considered distributing child porn.
"We are taking a very good look at both sides. We know it is traumatic on both sides but we have to do what the law tells us to do," said Sgt. Shannon Clark of the Tulsa County Sheriff's office.
Deputies say the 18-year old is considered an adult and that is why he is now in the county jail, for adults. If he'd been a minor, the charges would have still been the same.
"You don't have to be over 18 to produce and distribute child pornography," said Clark.
If a 17-year old girl sends a nude picture to her 18-year old boyfriend. It's not just sexting but to law enforcement, its child porn.
"What happens to him is he is receiving child porn. She is the one creating it. It is separate but technically yes, they both could be in trouble," said Clark.
If he keeps it, its possession and if they break up and he shares it, distributing child porn.
"A lot of the kids in the school system, we know it's rampant. They don't take into account that some of the stuff is extremely serious," said Clark.
Just like the case at Union--teens don't know their phones, their pictures and social media, designed to keep them connected can also leave them very isolated--in the county jail, if they co mitt a crime.
Investigators say they are handling the situation with sensitivity they have two young people and so far they are following the letter of the law.
On Sunday night a tornado went through the town of Carney. It destroyed or damaged about 40 homes. When you look out at the area there are homes in every direction that show some kind of damage. Some of the families that have lived there for 17 years and have never been through anything like this. They didn't even have enough time to get their family in the shelter.
More >>On Sunday night a tornado went through the town of Carney. It destroyed or damaged about 40 homes. When you look out at the area there are homes in every direction that show some kind of damage. Some of the families that have lived there for 17 years and have never been through anything like this. They didn't even have enough time to get their family in the shelter.
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