Michael Amity is horrified by what seems to be an invasive and violating request by officials for photos of a teen’s genitals.
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A boy has been arrested and charged with two felonies, for manufacture and possession of child pornography. He, 17, was ‘sexting’ his girlfriend, 15. The girl’s mother reported him, although her daughter initiated the exchange. From The Washington Post:
A Manassas City teenager accused of “sexting” a video to his girlfriend is now facing a search warrant in which Manassas City police and Prince William County prosecutors want to take a photo of his erect penis, possibly forcing the teen to become erect by taking him to a hospital and giving him an injection, the teen’s lawyers said. A Prince William County judge allowed the 17-year-old to leave the area without the warrant being served or the pictures being taken — yet.
Adding injury to insult, the law, in gathering evidence, is saying they need another picture of his penis for comparison’s sake, to reference with the video they took from her phone that will be evidence in his trial. The girl has not been charged. They’ve already taken pictures of his genitals against his will. Now, they seek a warrant in order to drug the boy so they may photograph him erect, citing a statute “designed to protect children from being exploited in a sexual manner,” according to his council. A continuance has been issued, but before the evidence is collected, a judge will decide whether to serve that warrant. The next court date is July 15th. This is wrong. A law that allows for horrifying treatment of children is unjust. Government takes any chance it gets to wield power, even if it means manhandling a juvenile who engaged in what may have been consensual behavior. If he is found guilty, he will go to prison for several years, likely, and be as a listed sex offender for potentially his whole life. The whole case is absurd. Is it too much to ask the parents to handle it? The pain beset on children, caused by deferring ethical teaching away from parents to lawmakers, is inexcusable and preventable. Update: A statement from officials explains their position. – Photo: Flickr/Yutaka Tsutano
Michael, your bio says you like to look for “hidden, mystical or subtle connectors in everything.” So, why don’t you just start calling lawyers in Prince William County, Virginia, and ask them if (A) it is common there to charge teens with creation of child pornography for sexting with an image of themselves, (B) if it is common there to charge teens with possession of child pornography for the unsolicited receipt of an image from another teen, and (C) if it is common there to charge teenage boys only (and not teenage girls as well) under these circumstances. Aren’t you… Read more »
We’ll, I’ve asserted it’s too much power and implied at least laws should change. Felonies are not things that should be selectively decided upon. Parents could do a better job than prosecutors I’ve suggested. What calls have you made? I have done research into Fedeal laws, supreme cort cases, national and state sex registries, data on sexting and most of my info is being withheld for another article. I like to focus on broad points but this is a news story regarding a pending case with a minor so much of my research doesn’t fit with this story. I agree… Read more »
“A law that allows the horrifying treatment of children is unjust”. Yeah, but it involves a male child so it’s all good.