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Charges coming in Davis County over nude photos
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L. G. KIRKPATRICK | 4:44 a.m. March 7, 2008
ANOTHER TIMELY AND GREAT ARTICLE, WINSLOW! So how come these kids have so much
free and unsupervised time? Looks like they could use some more homework, a
little closely-supervised probation, more parental/custodial care, and a whole
lot of psychological counseling, both during and after they've served their
court-ordered sentences to whatever terms the courts decide . . . .
grizzman | 5:32 a.m. March 7, 2008
its very simple...new school policy..no cell phones or i pods on school
property, we didn't have them when i was in school...if we needed to make a
call, we went to the office, or if someone needed to contact us, they called the
office, just because there available doesn't mean they have to be used in
public schools...why are administrators afraid to take the high road on issues
like these..its all controllable..it comes down to will they do it..its a matter
of choice.
Comments continue below
Anonymous | 6:23 a.m. March 7, 2008
Kids do stupid stuff. It is us adults who make it worse than it is. Parents
should have a talk with their kids and that should be their warnings. Making
felons out of these kids? Please, get a real life. I wonder if it is the
public officials who are enjoying and getting off on these pictures that they
are trying to keep prolonging this case for their enjoyment. How shameful!
A Teacher | 6:38 a.m. March 7, 2008
Cell phones are the worst thing to hit schools since bad meat... seriously
though, I have to deal with cell phone issues on a daily basis. You can't
catch every student with their cell phone out. Parents should learn how to use
their child's cell phones and check them frequently. These kids don't
understand what they're getting into.
Providence Mom | 6:56 a.m. March 7, 2008
I had to learn the hard way when I gave my daughter a cell phone. She spent all
her time texting and there were some provocative pictures exchanged as well.
Then I got smart and talked to our cell provider who walked me through how I
could read her texts and see anything she sent or received via my email and
through the provider's web site. After I told her this, and checked up at
least weekly, many things have improved in her life! She gets more sleep, I
know who she is chatting with, where she is, and more importantly, where she
isn't, and often what she is doing. Children tend to get sucked up in this
world of anonymity provided by cell and computer and when they think no one is
watching, they can really get themselves into trouble. They need to know we, as
parents, care enough to know what is happening, even if they grumble for a while
that we would be so involved. It is so heartbreaking to see our children have
to face consequences of something like this so keeping a close eye on them is
much better!
Salem Judges | 7:00 a.m. March 7, 2008
Tread carefully here, Mr. Dunn. Naughty, naughty children -- but they grow out
of this sort of thing. Don't convoke the majesty of the law to humiliate
and ruin these kids. I know a good many bishop and stake president who played
strip poker in junior high.
Sex-obsessed prosecutors | 7:19 a.m. March 7, 2008
Given the number of stories on this investigation, and now prosecution, it
can't be helping the image of the Davis County Attorney's office.
Kids trading nude photos of each other is bad, but adult prosecutors trading nude photos of children on taxpayer-time is good?
Kids trading nude photos of each other is bad, but adult prosecutors trading nude photos of children on taxpayer-time is good?
to: More predatory behavior | 7:32 a.m. March 7, 2008
Quoting 'More predatory behavior':
"No fit parent would allow their children to enter into a diversion agreement for counseling and it's the responsibility of parents to hire an attorney to fight these idiotic charges."
Yes, getting them counseling instead of prison is going to harm them for life. It might actually deter this behavior in the future!
"It's obvious that the Davis County prosecutors are imbeciles who need to concern themselves with their children and not other people's."
If they did that, they would be out of a job. By your logic, we should stop prosecuting criminals because our attorneys need to raise their kids instead of working for a living.
"What kind of perverts are these prosecutors?"
They aren't perverts at all. They are the people that take perverts off the streets to protect our children. Getting a small group of teens educated and awakened in counseling could prevent a lifetime of pain and heartache for their families.
"No fit parent would allow their children to enter into a diversion agreement for counseling and it's the responsibility of parents to hire an attorney to fight these idiotic charges."
Yes, getting them counseling instead of prison is going to harm them for life. It might actually deter this behavior in the future!
"It's obvious that the Davis County prosecutors are imbeciles who need to concern themselves with their children and not other people's."
If they did that, they would be out of a job. By your logic, we should stop prosecuting criminals because our attorneys need to raise their kids instead of working for a living.
"What kind of perverts are these prosecutors?"
They aren't perverts at all. They are the people that take perverts off the streets to protect our children. Getting a small group of teens educated and awakened in counseling could prevent a lifetime of pain and heartache for their families.
NO CELL PHONES!!! | 7:29 a.m. March 7, 2008
Parents bend over backwards for any request by their teenagers. Saying NO is a
good thing. It actually teaches kids to value things, working toward things, and
appreciating things. Saying yes to everything is ABUSE!!
Take away cell phones or limit which numbers they are allowed to call, which means your number as the parent and 911. THAT'S IT
Take away cell phones or limit which numbers they are allowed to call, which means your number as the parent and 911. THAT'S IT
Adults fault | 7:45 a.m. March 7, 2008
The parents fault for allowing kids to have cell phones, or at least not
monitoring them.
School district or States fault for allowing phones in school at all.
Give a kid a open bottle of bear and walk away, guess what, many will drink it or abuse it.
Giving them a cell phone with camera and text capabilities is the same.
Take charge!!
School district or States fault for allowing phones in school at all.
Give a kid a open bottle of bear and walk away, guess what, many will drink it or abuse it.
Giving them a cell phone with camera and text capabilities is the same.
Take charge!!
Dr Jazz-in Colorado | 7:42 a.m. March 7, 2008
WOW Nice world we live in when so many want to sweep this behavior under the
rug.
Your right they will probably "grow out of it" except for the kids that grow up to be sexual predators b/c of this expose and the unchecked nature of the majority of your responses. Probably no big deal. Maybe we should ask the parents of the 19 yo coed in Reno?
Parents are usually the least objective in situation involving their children such as this. Scott Petersons parents stood behind their son.
This is a scary situation and another reason my 14 yo is without a phone. By the way he made this choose himself. He was wise enough to see that his fellow classmates often were in trouble b/c of their phones and told us he didn't want one.
Good luck to all involved b/c the same situation is happening all over. Just ask the good people in Monticello, Utah.
Your right they will probably "grow out of it" except for the kids that grow up to be sexual predators b/c of this expose and the unchecked nature of the majority of your responses. Probably no big deal. Maybe we should ask the parents of the 19 yo coed in Reno?
Parents are usually the least objective in situation involving their children such as this. Scott Petersons parents stood behind their son.
This is a scary situation and another reason my 14 yo is without a phone. By the way he made this choose himself. He was wise enough to see that his fellow classmates often were in trouble b/c of their phones and told us he didn't want one.
Good luck to all involved b/c the same situation is happening all over. Just ask the good people in Monticello, Utah.
No cells for my kids | 7:44 a.m. March 7, 2008
Kids do amazingly stupid things once you hand them the phone, even innocent
things like waking up at 3am to use the bathroom, and deciding, since
they're up anyway, to call a friend. I survived and managed to find a way
to call my parents as needed in the days before cell phones. My kids can have a
cell phone the moment they're a) old enough to legally sign the contract
and b) have enough money in their budget to pay for it. In the meantime, they
are learning that cells are TOOLS not TOYS.
Anonymous | 7:46 a.m. March 7, 2008
To those who think this is no big deal...
The "children" are using the photos to "force" the other "children" to do things they don't want to do; this sounds like blackmail or forcible sexual contact or in some cases possibly rape. All of these things are serious. This is not just strip poker. The photos can be sent to anyone including the local pedophiles. These activities are harmful to many. Where/when do we draw the line?
To those who believe taking the cell phones out of school will help...
The nude photos are probably not being taken at school and may not even be sent during school. Small cameras are readily available. The technology is here now; we need to find a way to deal with it.
Parental involvement is needed but as you may read in more than one post, many may not take it seriously. Some parents are not even involved enough to realize their kids text during school or that they know how to send photos.
The "children" are using the photos to "force" the other "children" to do things they don't want to do; this sounds like blackmail or forcible sexual contact or in some cases possibly rape. All of these things are serious. This is not just strip poker. The photos can be sent to anyone including the local pedophiles. These activities are harmful to many. Where/when do we draw the line?
To those who believe taking the cell phones out of school will help...
The nude photos are probably not being taken at school and may not even be sent during school. Small cameras are readily available. The technology is here now; we need to find a way to deal with it.
Parental involvement is needed but as you may read in more than one post, many may not take it seriously. Some parents are not even involved enough to realize their kids text during school or that they know how to send photos.
GT | 8:00 a.m. March 7, 2008
FCC violation is a Felon.
Spanky | 8:15 a.m. March 7, 2008
Isn't it ironic that in a state with the highest birth rate, that the
majority of the population finds the human body and sex so "dirty".
Hey Utah, get a clue. These are young kids finding out about their own
sexuality, and kids have been doing this since the beginning of time. All of
these retentive cops and parents should sit down and think about how foolish
they sound getting so upset about such a minor problem.
uncannygunman | 8:14 a.m. March 7, 2008
Breaking news: Davis county authorities catch Johnny and Janie playing doctor,
charge them both with the unlicensed practice of medicine!
This would be hilarious if it weren't for the serious potential legal consequences to the kids and their parents.
This would be hilarious if it weren't for the serious potential legal consequences to the kids and their parents.
Anonymous | 8:27 a.m. March 7, 2008
If there is nothing done to these "children" who acted like adults,
and they get away with no consequences, then we as a society are just asking for
more problems from them when they do become adults. It will be a hard lesson to
learn, but a valuable one. If we as parents quit giving in to our children, and
force them to face the consequence of their choice, then we are teaching them to
become responsible adults.
The Davis County Attorney is just doing his job. If you live there, and don't like what he is doing, take political action to get him out. Otherwise, pay attention to your own children and make sure they are not out making the same mistakes as these children did.
The Davis County Attorney is just doing his job. If you live there, and don't like what he is doing, take political action to get him out. Otherwise, pay attention to your own children and make sure they are not out making the same mistakes as these children did.
John | 8:30 a.m. March 7, 2008
I think that they should take pictures of flowers instead. I mean who
doesn't like flowers you know.
Sabrower | 8:30 a.m. March 7, 2008
Teenagers are different now that we have the internet and the technology that
makes it harder to control them. We must make the difference in their lives.
There are too many parents that give up. Look at the case of the 16 year old
girl that killed her family and then burned down the house, just because her
parents didn't want her to see the boy she was dating. The kids today are
harder to handle and we made it that way, so we have to take on more of the
responsibility and make sure they are loved and watched carefully. My children
are precious jewels to me and nobody or nothing is going to ruin them. I will
die before I let that happen.
Dennis | 8:45 a.m. March 7, 2008
Oh, but it's much easier for parents to put their head in the sand and
complain about prosecutors who are actually trying to protect these children.
Newsflash parents... if you're too self-absorbed in your own lives to bother to protect your own kids, someone has to step up to the plate before it's too late and they do something really stupid - like the so-called "hazing" incident at East High.
I can't believe how incredibly coddling some of you are! You seem to have twisted the adage that if my kid turns out better than me, I've done a good job of parenting. It's like you're saying, "I did stupid things at that age. I feel that I'm being a "real" parent if my kids do things that are even more stupid than I did."
Newsflash parents... if you're too self-absorbed in your own lives to bother to protect your own kids, someone has to step up to the plate before it's too late and they do something really stupid - like the so-called "hazing" incident at East High.
I can't believe how incredibly coddling some of you are! You seem to have twisted the adage that if my kid turns out better than me, I've done a good job of parenting. It's like you're saying, "I did stupid things at that age. I feel that I'm being a "real" parent if my kids do things that are even more stupid than I did."
Mom/Former Teen | 8:54 a.m. March 7, 2008
I'm so sorry for these children and all children. So sorry for all those
writers who think this is normal or harmless behavior. I say give the kids a
good scare with these charges. Hopefully all other kids engaging in this
behavior will be scared, too, along with their parents, who will hopefully take
a clue from Providence Mom above, and begin to be more responsible for their
children's actions. Sex is good, but the denigration and exploitation of
sex is not good or normal, and though they may grow out of it, they are rarely
able to get it out of their heads or systems. Just ask all those great bishops
and stake presidents that Salem Judges above talks of . . . if they really are
so great, they will tell you they wish they had chosen better, or that someone
had stopped them.
Hey Spanky | 8:57 a.m. March 7, 2008
You'd think differently if it was your child.
I have a confession to make | 9:03 a.m. March 7, 2008
I looked at pictures in "Playboy" and "Penthouse" when I was
a hormone-crazed teenager roughly 30 years ago.
Luckily, I haven't turned into a wild-eyed pervert yet, but I'm sure that's just around the corner. After all, any teenager who sees nudity is a ticking time bomb waiting to go off, a sexual predator in waiting.
So even though I eventually served an LDS mission, graduated from college, served honorably in the Marines, found a good job, married in the temple, had four happy kids and nearly 20 years of happy marriage, I'm doomed, DOOMED!!!
IF ONLY there had been courageous prosecutors who would have protected me from myself back then by giving me a criminal record. I would have been much happier in the long run with jail time, instead of having my parents just punish me.
Luckily, I haven't turned into a wild-eyed pervert yet, but I'm sure that's just around the corner. After all, any teenager who sees nudity is a ticking time bomb waiting to go off, a sexual predator in waiting.
So even though I eventually served an LDS mission, graduated from college, served honorably in the Marines, found a good job, married in the temple, had four happy kids and nearly 20 years of happy marriage, I'm doomed, DOOMED!!!
IF ONLY there had been courageous prosecutors who would have protected me from myself back then by giving me a criminal record. I would have been much happier in the long run with jail time, instead of having my parents just punish me.
Homer | 9:05 a.m. March 7, 2008
Wow I'm amazed that anyone is defending or making excuses for these kids.
billy bob | 9:07 a.m. March 7, 2008
Kids having cell phones ?????????????? use mom and dads and they don't
need picture taking feature either . Simple phone if you think they need them.
If being a good parent means giving them the very best, then how shallow you
are, and your kids will pay the consequences for your putting on the dog and
pony show for your peers. I just love going to Utah to visit, when I cross the
state line my IQ goes up 50 points.(and back down when I leave.)
Franz | 9:23 a.m. March 7, 2008
Why am I not surprised? The very first post puts the blame on prosecutors, even
calling them predators. I thought, surely this is an anomaly. No! Others join in
with similar comments. What world is this?
News flash, Spanky. Sex is not dirty, but passing around pictures of sex makes it so. Sex is great, but this makes it common; nothing especially special. We protect our kids from pornography not because we think it is dirty, but because we want them to know that it is so great that it should be protected. You want to pass it around like a handkerchief from hand to hand so that our children can see "explore" it. It does nothing but get it dirty until it ends up in the gutter.
Thank goodness for those responsible parents out there defending good sex.
News flash, Spanky. Sex is not dirty, but passing around pictures of sex makes it so. Sex is great, but this makes it common; nothing especially special. We protect our kids from pornography not because we think it is dirty, but because we want them to know that it is so great that it should be protected. You want to pass it around like a handkerchief from hand to hand so that our children can see "explore" it. It does nothing but get it dirty until it ends up in the gutter.
Thank goodness for those responsible parents out there defending good sex.
PARENTS OWN UP!!!!!!!!!!! | 9:22 a.m. March 7, 2008
I have said it before, if my kids did this, they wouldn't have a cell
phone--END OF STORY.
The real criminals here are the parents of the kids that ARE SO UNINVOLVED and CLUELESS of what their kids are up too. FINE THE PARENTS -- i'm so sick of people trying to dump their parenting responsibilty on the schools and society.
The real criminals here are the parents of the kids that ARE SO UNINVOLVED and CLUELESS of what their kids are up too. FINE THE PARENTS -- i'm so sick of people trying to dump their parenting responsibilty on the schools and society.
S.D. | 9:26 a.m. March 7, 2008
I don't think this is any laughing matter. I teach college courses in
management and I'm regularly shocked by how far our youth seem to be
sliding and how fast they seem to be going. Granted, pornography is now readily
available online and is entering our society like an overflowing scourge. But,
if we don't do something about it, I think the consequences are going to be
more horrible than most people even comprehend. Though societal controls can
help in some instances, the only real defense we have emanates from the home.
Parents must teach their children in their homes about the many evils out there
that can burn them- destroy them- before they've had a chance to fully make
their own choices in life. The fashion nowadays seems to be rebellion against
the moral norms of yesterday, but those rebelling lack understanding. They have
to see the consequences themselves before they believe.
Felony | 9:28 a.m. March 7, 2008
Why are we even having this discussion?
Whether you agree with it or not, a minor taking pictures of his/her genitals is creating CHILD PORNOGRAPHY. Kiddie porn. The same thing that makes most of you sick when adults do it. It is a FEDERAL FELONY punishable by several decades in prison.
It doesn't matter if the child consented. It doesn't matter if he/she was the one distributing it. It doesn't matter if the child created it.
This is CHILD PORNOGRAPHY. Child pornography is a FELONY.
I can't believe what I'm reading here.
Whether you agree with it or not, a minor taking pictures of his/her genitals is creating CHILD PORNOGRAPHY. Kiddie porn. The same thing that makes most of you sick when adults do it. It is a FEDERAL FELONY punishable by several decades in prison.
It doesn't matter if the child consented. It doesn't matter if he/she was the one distributing it. It doesn't matter if the child created it.
This is CHILD PORNOGRAPHY. Child pornography is a FELONY.
I can't believe what I'm reading here.
Narrow Minded | 9:28 a.m. March 7, 2008
I could not read all of the comments because after the first six I saw there was
no logical or pragmatic reasoning happening. To say this is nothing shows how
little you know about what is going on. The sending of the photos is enough of a
problem but throw in the coercion and you have a real Major Problem. Those
parents should ban together and take the phones away not fight the DA
More fallacious statements about schools and thinking that all of this happened at school, how naive. Also I am sure you would be screaming if this was your daughter and the boy gave it to his pervert older friend.
I want little government involvement as much as the next. I want to be soft on juveniles but they do need to learn and held resposible for their actions.
More fallacious statements about schools and thinking that all of this happened at school, how naive. Also I am sure you would be screaming if this was your daughter and the boy gave it to his pervert older friend.
I want little government involvement as much as the next. I want to be soft on juveniles but they do need to learn and held resposible for their actions.
I MISS THE OLD SCHOOL | 9:32 a.m. March 7, 2008
1978 - Johnnie and Janie would get spanked then grounded, phones taken away.
2008 - Johnnie and Janie face felony charges in court, parents charged with assault and child endangerment for spanking them.
2008 - Johnnie and Janie face felony charges in court, parents charged with assault and child endangerment for spanking them.
Wow | 9:43 a.m. March 7, 2008
I cant believe some of the posts here. Yes I agree that some of these children
will probably not grow up and have any problems, and have a great life. But
what about the few? Do any of you realise how many sex offenders there are in
Utah? Do any of you realise how easy it is to exploit children now? Yes 30
years ago people couldn't send pictures over the computer, but now it is
done on a daily basis. A picture that someone inocently takes on a phone that
is sent to the wrong person can so easily be placed on the internet and viewed
by almost anyone. If you think that this doesn't happen, why dont you go
ask the Police that deal with sex offenders on a daily basis and then, maybe you
will open your eyes and realise how sick mankind really is. How sad it is that
people are willing to let this behavior go unpunished!!
Conc. Parent | 9:49 a.m. March 7, 2008
we all should chill just cause we didnt have a phone when we were young doesnt
mean anything, just that we dont know how they feel about it so lets try to
settle this in a different way then over reacting like all grown ups do. so they
take new pictures of themselves thats not the phone problem cause if they didnt
have phones they would use a real camera or anything else, its you parents who
arent raising your children right, listen to them
Anonymous | 9:44 a.m. March 7, 2008
why are there cell phones in school? dont they have policies against that? maybe
the school districts should have some responsibility.
Anonymous | 10:06 a.m. March 7, 2008
The judgment here is amazing... I actually thought we were alone when this past
fall I went through the same thing with my daughter. She wasn't sending
nude pictures, but the prosecutors called them provactive, look up the
definition of pornography.. it's not nudity. Guaranteed no more than is
seen on Lizzy McGuire. It's our society today and we need to realize that
and educate our kids not judge them. We're fortunate that we got past it
and my daughter is awesome! (and still has her cell) The felony charge is the
same as an adult that sexually assaults a two year old. Is it fair that these
kids are considered sex offenders for the rest of their lives for immulating
what they see on TV? I pay far more attention than most parents I know about
what my kids are doing and who they are with but this honestly never occured to
me. Our story didn't make the news and I was looked at like I was nuts
when I said someone needed to let these kids know that it is a big deal!
Hopefully since this one made the news, others can learn from it.
firefly | 10:04 a.m. March 7, 2008
I am so sad to see so many parents marginalize what these kids are doing! There
have to be consequences or else what do the kids learn from these mistakes?
Parents should not pooh pooh this stuff! If you treat it like no big deal what
will they do next? Some enterprising youth will realize they can make money off
this stuff and they will start selling it to the perverts out there who are just
trolling for it. Please wake up Mom and Dad! Looking at a Playboy is NOT the
same as what these kids are doing.
Mahonri | 10:06 a.m. March 7, 2008
If they call the photos 'Art' they will all get off without any
problems. The 'Art' disignation means you can get away with almost
anything.
Re; Homer | 10:12 a.m. March 7, 2008
Homer: That's okay, most of us are surprised that people like your would
prosecute children over a gun law... oh, I'm sorry, if there were a gun
involved, the parent would be charged. If the child missed school, the parent
would be charged...
So.... .... lest quit prosecuting children, and start prosecuting people like Homer.
So.... .... lest quit prosecuting children, and start prosecuting people like Homer.
A in LA | 10:29 a.m. March 7, 2008
You people scare me! Here you are supposedly the ones with the highest values
and morals in the country, and yet your comments stop just short of condoning
this kind of behavior. "I have a confession to make"'s comments
are REALLY pathetic. It sounds like the parents are the BIGGER problem here.
Aren't you people savy enough to see the bigger problem here? Just what are
you teaching your children that they would think this was ok in any shape or
form? Like I said, you people scare me.
Robo | 10:36 a.m. March 7, 2008
I'm about as conservative as you can get. Is this a problem? Yes. Is
turning these kids into felons the answer? No, unless there are repeat offenses
down the road. Do the kids AND their parents need to go through a court ordered
process of counseling and monitoring for a period of time? Yes. Does there
need to be education in homes, schools, and churches that this is not O.K.?
Yes. Do we as adults in this society need to set a better example and cut the
constant barage of sexual images way down in the culture? Yes!
Science Teacher | 11:18 a.m. March 7, 2008
Cellphones are a problem mainly because of parents.
They buy them for kids, let them take phones to school, AND THEN TEXT THEM IN THE MIDDLE OF CLASS!!!
When the phones are confiscated, it is often mommy who is down there in a matter of minutes to retrieve said evil and hand it back to Junior.
We can't win in that enabling situation. :(
They buy them for kids, let them take phones to school, AND THEN TEXT THEM IN THE MIDDLE OF CLASS!!!
When the phones are confiscated, it is often mommy who is down there in a matter of minutes to retrieve said evil and hand it back to Junior.
We can't win in that enabling situation. :(
Annother Confession | 11:20 a.m. March 7, 2008
I have a confession to make, you hit the nail on the head.
The only thing different now is that a kid can't turn on the television, read any magazine, play a video game or see a billboard without sex being blasted at them from all sides. It is implied from these media that this kind of behavior is acceptable, normal and even funny but then when they act out what has been implied to them on TV shows like Friends, Jerry Seinfeld, Will and Grace etc. Adults are horrified and want to punish them as if they were adults. Shame on us the adults, the kids must be so confused. It amazes me how good most of the kids are even after the constant exposure of things sexual from all the media. The kids need to know what they did was wrong but not to the point of ruining their lives, they have been misled by our society.
The only thing different now is that a kid can't turn on the television, read any magazine, play a video game or see a billboard without sex being blasted at them from all sides. It is implied from these media that this kind of behavior is acceptable, normal and even funny but then when they act out what has been implied to them on TV shows like Friends, Jerry Seinfeld, Will and Grace etc. Adults are horrified and want to punish them as if they were adults. Shame on us the adults, the kids must be so confused. It amazes me how good most of the kids are even after the constant exposure of things sexual from all the media. The kids need to know what they did was wrong but not to the point of ruining their lives, they have been misled by our society.
These kids... | 11:31 a.m. March 7, 2008
...are seriously troubled, but not as much as the adult posters here who see no
problem with this behavior. The prosecutors should be commended, the parents
need the GUTS to take the cell phones away.
me | 11:41 a.m. March 7, 2008
Do these kids have nothing better to do ?? They are forging a way to a lower
life style that some day they will regret. But would they believe that now ? Of
course not silly !!!
Untwist your thinking | 11:42 a.m. March 7, 2008
Is exchanging pornography with minors a felony? Then these minors turned
themselves into felons with their own actions.
They knew what they were doing was wrong. They knew there were consequences if they got caught. And although they may not have realized how severe their actions really were, that is precisely why consequences that are equally severe are just.
If someone is able to apply mercy, it should be given when, and only when, a truly penitent person is sorry for what they have done, has no desire to do it again, and has done all that they can to right the wrong. Then these charges may be covered by another advocating for that person.
However, nothing reports yet, that these children regret what they have done and intend to stop the behavior (Except when punishment was the result of getting caught). When people seek to hide their behavior--not willing to tell others (confess) what they are doing--they know what they are doing is wrong and will continue in that wrong behavior until they realize how much that behavior has wronged them and makes them sorry for it. Fair punishment by someone not twisted to justify, effects sorrow quicker.
They knew what they were doing was wrong. They knew there were consequences if they got caught. And although they may not have realized how severe their actions really were, that is precisely why consequences that are equally severe are just.
If someone is able to apply mercy, it should be given when, and only when, a truly penitent person is sorry for what they have done, has no desire to do it again, and has done all that they can to right the wrong. Then these charges may be covered by another advocating for that person.
However, nothing reports yet, that these children regret what they have done and intend to stop the behavior (Except when punishment was the result of getting caught). When people seek to hide their behavior--not willing to tell others (confess) what they are doing--they know what they are doing is wrong and will continue in that wrong behavior until they realize how much that behavior has wronged them and makes them sorry for it. Fair punishment by someone not twisted to justify, effects sorrow quicker.
Don't be nieve | 11:40 a.m. March 7, 2008
The kids would have to be pretty nieve to believe that all these pictures will
just stay inside the group. What happens when one of them falls out of favor
with the group? It would be too easy for someone in the group to embarrase them
by sending their stuff for the rest of the world to see.
Once stuff like this gets out there it can spread like wildfire. These kids shouldn't be suprised to find pictures of their genitelia on the internet someday soon.
Once stuff like this gets out there it can spread like wildfire. These kids shouldn't be suprised to find pictures of their genitelia on the internet someday soon.
Interested Attorney | 11:48 a.m. March 7, 2008
More predatory behavior (MPB)3/7/08 arguements are a concern to me. Knowing
only what I read and after having handled hundreds of child predator and
pornography cases I am concerned that MPB appears to be exhibiting all the
arguments and rationale used by child predators and those dealing child
pornography. I am not saying that MPB is one, but the arguement is specious.
It makes more sense to protect our children anyway we can than to leave it
alone. Parents alone cannot combat this evil. I agree everyones rights should
be protected, but we need all the help we can get to combat this pollution.
kids will be kids | 12:01 p.m. March 7, 2008
oh, come on, what the kids were doing was harmless fun. Everyone including
police need to ease off of the robo cop attitude, and just tell the kids that
what they are doing is innapropriate. We don't need to send innocent
children to jail over this type of petty little mistake. Good grief!
P.R. | 12:03 p.m. March 7, 2008
Personal Responsibility enforced by parents. One of the most shocking parts of
this story is about charging the boys with a felony for exploiting a girl by
using a picture SHE TOOK OF HERSELF!!!! Of course exploitation like that is
wrong, but could they even do that if she hadn't taken that picture? Is
abortion even a question for most people if they had chosen to remain abstinent
in the first place? This society is going to pot not because of the subsequent
misbehaviors, but because of the very first misbehavior that sets the stage for
the others. I understand that people do dumb things and make mistakes. I agree
that when dumb mistakes are made and crimes are kicked off as a result, those
crimes should be punished, regardless. But if we want problems like this to
end, we have to start with "the girl taking the picture" (or whatever
the first sin is). Whatever it is that causes that needs to be fixed first.
There is nothing innocent about what they did, but put it all in context and
deal out appropriate punishment. Above all, teach and love so it won't
likely happen to begin with.
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No fit parent would allow their children to enter into a diversion agreement for counseling and it's the responsibility of parents to hire an attorney to fight these idiotic charges. It's obvious that the Davis County prosecutors are imbeciles who need to concern themselves with their children and not other people's. The only "moral crime" here is on the part of the prosecutors and the parents should counsel their children against doing this in the future but they should stand united and protect their children against the predators who want to prosecute them. What kind of perverts are these prosecutors? It's obvious they are sick and enjoy preying on children and they should be ashamed of themselves.