As many as a dozen Pittsburgh-area high school students are expected to be charged as result of a “sexting” investigation.
Penn Township police told Channel 11’s Joe Holden that they’re preparing to file about a dozen summary violations and misdemeanors charges when their investigation into the Penn-Trafford High School students is complete.
According to police, the investigation began when a teacher overheard students discussing inappropriate photos.
The school collected some of the phones in question and police said several students distributed fully or partially nude photos.
“As soon as the school district officials began their investigation, they immediately located some photographs of females -- nude or partially nude -- on cellular telephones and they immediately contacted our department,” said Penn Township police Chief John Otto.
Investigators said all of the students’ parents consented to a search of the phones.
Police characterized this as a teaching moment.
“This is something that we educate our students on when we have awareness of what to do and what not to do. But sometimes students make split-second choices,” said Penn-Trafford School District Superintendent Matthew Harris.
According to police, students who took photos of themselves and distributed them will be charged with a summary offense. Students who received the images and shared them will be charged with a misdemeanor.
WPXI
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