miércoles, 9 de octubre de 2013

School sexting scandal in Beverly, Mass. - NECN


(NECN: Eileen Curran, Beverly, Mass.) - Nearly 20 middle and high school students in Beverly, Mass. faced disciplinary action after sending and receiving a sexting video made by a classmate. But the students could have faced criminal charges that, if convicted, would have required them to register as a sex offender.

"It's horrible kids do this," said parent Scott Matthews. "Are you crazy? It's out of control."

Matthews is the father of a 7th grade girl and a 9th grade boy.
    
His son not only knows the girl who made the sexting video but actually saw the video on another kid's computer.

"He said, 'Dad I saw it but got rid of it," said Matthews.

Two Beverly schools are reeling from the incident: the Briscoe Middle School and Beverly High.

The initial sexting incident took place last spring.

A then-8th grade girl sent her boyfriend, also an 8th grader, a suggestive video of herself.

The video apparently remained between the two until they broke up.  About two weeks ago it started making the rounds at both the high school and middle school.

Police say nearly two dozen students used school computers to send and receive it.
    
But, one high school student felt uncomfortable and told a teacher, who alerted police.

"They're doing the right thing. They knew (it was wrong), they felt bad," said Beverly school resource officer Ed Hathon.
    
Six students at the high school received one- to three-day suspensions in the case. Eleven students at the middle school are also to be punished but will not face suspension.
    
School officials met with their parents Monday morning.

Although the actions qualify as criminal, specifically disseminating child pornography, police said they will not press charges against the students involved.

"We felt that the best outcome was to not file criminal charges at this time," said Officer Hathon. "We know kids, they make mistakes, usually they don't think before they do stuff."

Police believe all or most of the kids had no idea what they were doing was criminal but they know now.

Officials are using this as a teaching moment not only for students but also for parents.

"Look out for your kids," said Hathon.  "It's not like a diary they can put away. Once they put something on electronic means, this stuff can go worldwide within seconds."

Although no criminal charges have been file, police did file a formal report that can be used if any of the students get into trouble in the future.

Tags: sexting, Eileen Curran, criminal charges, beverly massachusetts, scott matthews, briscoe middle school, beverly high school, disseminating child pornography

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