Police Chief Threatens Middle School 'Sexters' With Child Porn Charges

New Jersey town is cracking down after girl sexts classmates

By Kirstin Cole pix11.com

7:08 p.m. PDT, May 19, 2011

WYCKOFF, NJ (PIX11) -- The town of Wyckoff, NJ is facing a second outbreak of teen sexting and now the police chief is taking a zero-tolerance stance.
On Thursday, Wyckoff Police Chief Benjamin Fox told middle school students at the Dwight D. Eisenhower school they will be hit with child pornography charges if caught with nude pictures on their phones.
Jessica Ford, a junior from Paramus, said parents need to be involved, too.  "Parents should be monitoring what is on their kid's phone.  Mine always did," said Ford.
Anna Caputo, a sophomore from Midland Park, added, "I don't think they understand how serious it is to send pictures of yourself, that it's child pornography when you're 13, and it's illegal."

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It all started earlier in the week when a 13-year-old girl sent a naked picture of herself to some boys. It nearly went viral, with kids throughout the school getting the nude picture.  Several boys fought over the picture, prompting teachers to check their phones.  They alerted law enforcement to the illegal activity.
"Especially if you don't have permission from the person, it's just not right. Should someone be found with those, they should be fined or arrested," said Zack Vanderwiele, a sophomore from Midland Park.
School officials are also making sure Wyckoff police will arrest any students found with pictures of the girl on their phone after Thursday. The middle school will also have police officers address the school population on the serious criminal nature of possessing and passing around nude pictures.