From Deseret News archives:

Prosecutors charge teen with felony in nude cell phone pictures case

Published: Thursday, April 17, 2008 12:49 p.m. MDT
 |  E-MAIL | PRINT | FONT + - 
FARMINGTON — Davis County prosecutors have charged a 15-year-old boy in connection to the swapping of nude cell phone images among some 30 students.

A complaint filed Wednesday in juvenile court in Davis County charges the boy with one third-degree felony count of dealing in material harmful to a minor, plus three class-B misdemeanor counts of lewdness.

Other misdemeanor charges have been filed against about 30 other students, but this is the first time a student has been charged with a felony in the case.

Deputy Davis County Attorney Ron Dunn said most of the incidents investigated involved students sending nude photos of each other as a joke. In order for a juvenile to qualify for a felony charge there must be a victim involved in which the photo taken was used for other means, such as publication on a Web site, Dunn said. He would not provide details about any specific cases.

Davis County Attorney Troy Rawlings stressed that the felony charge against the 15-year-old was not an offense which would require him to register as a sex offender.

Story continues below
Earlier this month, a discussion of the nude cell phone pictures by the Utah Supreme Court sparked a flood of phone calls to Rawlings' office by parents who were concerned their children could be made to be registered sex offenders. Rawlings said he does not plan to charge any of the students with anything that would result in that.

While prosecutors are being sensitive, Rawlings said he wants to send a message to kids that trading in nude cell phone pictures is something that should not be considered acceptable behavior.


E-mail: gfattah@desnews.com

Recent comments

who don't want any consequences to your actions, I feel for your...

To all you liberals | May 29, 2008 at 11:01 p.m.

This is just total stupidity. I don't see any harm and, as far as I...

JST | April 24, 2008 at 2:17 p.m.

Interesting opinions, but some seem to go against what I have...

L | April 18, 2008 at 9:57 a.m.

previousnext

Latest comments

5A: Bingham rolls to title game

You just proved everyone else right. It's not that they don't work hard....

Wow, nearly all of the people who have commented thus far have jumped...

Ever notice, folks.... just how "ME-ME", "MY"-MY" this world has become? ...

Madoff's yacht on auction block

Madoff's? Isn't that a misnomer? Given that he stole the billions he used to...

I went to BYU, the U and others. There was much more freedom at BYU than...

Around the world in 126 temples

WOW....... cool, a Utah man goes around the world in 126 temples, and (the...

It is just like this... Collie is a STUD! way to reprsent the BYU program...

Wounded Utes limp home

Congratuations on a great year!!! I'm looking forward to seeing you in a BCS...

I agree. I don't see how this is considered to be "REFORM" if the old system...

Relieved Cougs prep for Falcons

for BYU fans to wake up and smell the Coffee er Postum. I see the BYU fans...

Advertisements
Advertisement