07-10-2014, 09:36 PM
(07-10-2014, 08:02 PM)Cutz Wrote: I know PA has the same laws, when I was 17 I dated a 15 yo. girl, and then I turned 18 (and just so you don't throw me thecard, she chased after me and was more sexually active than I had been.) I really don't see how they'd stick statutory stuff on him, but the pornography of a minor aspect is a possible pitfall. Unfair as it may be, sexting is still a blossoming legal area, and I could see how he'd be made an example. Still I think it'd be tough to convict him as an adult, so it'd be Juvie right?
Serious juvenile charges with long-term impacts though, you cradle-robber.
The teen is facing two felony charges, for possession of child pornography and manufacturing child pornography, which could lead not only to incarceration until he’s 21, but inclusion on the state sex offender data base for, possibly, the rest of his life.
Police have to investigate every complaint and take sex-related charges seriously -- I don't blame them for doing so. However, I have doubts that the PD would handle it the way the boy's attorney, Ms. Foster, was positioning it to the media unless there was more to the story. We'll see.
Anyway, Tonight the PD issued this press release with their side of the story.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Juvenile Sexting Case
On January 23, 2014 Manassas City Police was contacted by a parent of a 15 YOA female juvenile who was sent pornographic videos by a 17 YOA male suspect after repeatedly being told to stop. Upon further investigating the incident charges of manufacturing and distributing child pornography were brought against the 17 YOA male suspect on January 28, 2014 after consultation with the Commonwealth Attorney’s Office. The matter was set for trial on June 4th 2014 where charges were nolle prosqui by a Prince William County Assistant Commonwealth Attorney.
The circumstances on the decision to dismiss charges and bring forward new charges cannot be released at this time due to this incident being an active investigation and involving juveniles. New charges of manufacturing and distributing child pornography have been brought forward and a court date is pending.
It is not the policy of the Manassas City Police or the Commonwealth Attorney’s Office to authorize invasive search procedures of suspects in cases of this nature and no such procedures have been conducted in this case. Beyond that, neither the Police Department nor the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office discusses evidentiary matters prior to court hearings.
###
Adrienne E. Helms
Crime Prevention Specialist &
Public Information Officer
Manassas City Police Department
9518 Fairview Ave
Manassas, VA 20110
If the police were really overreaching and the boy is as innocent as his attorney would like us to believe, I'd not be surprised to see this go away as a result of the media spotlight and public outcry.
If the boy refused to stop sending what legally equates to child porn to a minor after being told repeatedly to cease, he could be in serious trouble. IMO.