If you’re a parent, the last thing you want to do is pick up your teen’s phone and see pictures that are far too graphic and sexually oriented for a PG-13 rating. Unfortunately, though, tons of teens are “sexting,” or sending pictures of themselves nude or engaged in sexual acts (they’re even using SnapChat to sext, which isn’t as safe—or as private—as they think it is). The biggest problems arise when one of the teens is older, or even a young adult, and one is still considered a minor. If your children have gotten themselves into legal trouble that involves sexting, you need to talk to a Milwaukee criminal defense lawyer immediately.
Here’s why.
What Happened in Manassas Didn’t Stay in Manassas
A recent case in Virginia involved a young man, aged 17, sexting his 15-year-old girlfriend. He’s facing two felony charges: one for possession of child pornography and another for manufacturing child pornography.
Remember, these two were boyfriend and girlfriend.
That’s not the worst of it, though, despite the fact that the young man may have to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life.
Authorities wanted to take him to the hospital, inject him with drugs to induce an erection, and visually compare his penis to photos sent between his and his girlfriend’s phones.
You read that right.
That could happen to your child. Police have already taken photos of the young man’s penis without his parents—or his—consent.
This particular case isn’t about whether we agree that kids should be punished for sexting. That’s an individual family’s decision based on their own beliefs, the kids’ ages, and a whole host of other factors. What it is about is this boy’s rights, which were clearly not protected.
If something like this happens to your children, no matter how angry you are, please talk to a Milwaukee criminal defense attorney who understands sex crimes right away. You could save your child the permanent psychological trauma that this unfortunate boy will now have to deal with for the rest of his life.
