Detectives confiscated cellphones from at least 11 junior high school students after being notified May 29 of a sexting situation in the Northshore School District.
An investigation of the students began after the notification, according to police. Detectives said it appears several boys encouraged a number of girls to send nude photographs of themselves to the boys’ cellphones over the past year.
The Northshore School District said in a couple of instances, girls may have been threatened that their photos would be shared unless they sent more.
The activity allegedly happened throughout the school year involving students at Canyon Park Junior High School and Skyview Junior High School.
It is illegal to possess, view, or manufacture pictures of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct in Washington, which means that both the boys and girls involved could face charges.
“People got called into the office. The vice principal was telling people they need to delete the pictures, and I heard parents were calling, saying that they knew that kids had their kids’ pictures on their phones,” said Kennedy Davis, a ninth-grader at Canyon Park Junior High School.
Kennedy’s mother, Kim Davis, said she has access to her daughter’s phone to keep an eye on what’s going on. She said she has told her daughter that if she is sent a photo or is ever approached for one, she should tell an adult.
“Everything you text, you Snapchat, you Instagram, whatever you do – you think you delete it, but it’s all out there forever,” Davis said.
Sgt. Ken Suberlich issued a reminder to parents on the Bothell Police Department blog, saying "the Bothell Police Department strongly encourages parents to talk to their teens about safe internet, cellphone, and social media behavior.”
Police are now interviewing people and comparing phone records with those interviews.
The case will ultimately be reviewed by the appropriate prosecutor’s office to determine if there are any potential criminal charges to be filed, police said.
Because the Northshore School District lies in both King and Snohomish counties, either prosecuting attorney could pick up the case, depending on where the students live.
Jeremy Gutierrez, an eighth-grader, told KIRO 7 he heard “one kid decided to do the right thing and tell an adult what’s going on,” which spurred the investigation.
His father, Gustavo Gutierrez, said photos like that can unintentionally fall in the hands of sex predators or other criminals.
He told his son, “Turn the other way. Walk away from it. Don’t get involved with them people, because that’s all about trouble and drama, and we don’t need that.”
The note below was sent to families in the Northshore School District.
Dear Northshore Families:
The Bothell Police Department is investigating reports that several male junior high students encouraged female junior high students over the last several months to send nude images of themselves to the boys' cell phones. It is alleged that in a couple of instances girls have been pressured to send images or threatened that their photos would be shared unless they sent more. Anyone who has information regarding this investigation is encouraged to contact the Bothell Police Department at 425.486.1254.
Living in the digital age has its benefits and challenges. Students now have technology at their fingertips through smartphones, social media and apps such as Snapchat, Vine, Instagram, Twitter, Tumblr, etc. As students become more connected through technology, they have instant access to friends, but can become more vulnerable to such things as online bullying or sexting. Many students believe that once a photo is deleted or disappears from the screen that it is gone forever, but that isn't the case. Importantly, college/university admissions officers and employers increasingly review the Internet to be sure that there is nothing in a person's past that might overshadow a potential acceptance or hire. Helping your child make smart decisions with technology now will help support their future plans after high school.
Student safety is a top priority and we encourage you to talk with your student about social media and online safety. Please review the resources below provided from the National Crime Prevention Council about online safety and the consequences of sexting and discuss the pressures to send revealing photos. Encourage your child to tell an adult if s/he receives an inappropriate photo via email, text, social media or other application, and advise them not to forward the photo to other friends as that is a violation of the law.
Our goal is to provide your child with a world-class education and support their educational success. We appreciate your partnership in discussing this important issue with your child and fostering a safe learning environment for all students.
Sincerely,
Heather Miller
Assistant Superintendent
Resources
- Sexting – How Parents Can Keep Their Kids Safe
- Sexting – How Teens Can Stay Safe
- Cyberbullying and Sexting on Social Media
- Teens and Cyberbullying
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