YouTube Prank Has Singer Facing Prison

He made it appear as if he were singing a raunchy song to kids
By Nick McMaster,  Newser Staff
Posted Feb 17, 2011 4:39 PM CST
Evan Emory Charged With Felony Sex Abuse for YouTube Prank Over Raunchy Song
Evan Emory sings to a class of first graders in this still from his YouTube video.   (YouTube)

A 21-year-old singer-songwriter apparently thought a viral video could bring attention to his fledgling career. But Michigan's Evan Emory got more notoriety than he anticipated: His joke-gone-wrong has left him charged with "manufacturing child sexual abusive material," a felony that carries a 20-year sentence. Emory's gag was to appear to sing extremely graphic lyrics to a classroom of first-graders, reports MLive. In fact, he sang the kid-friendly "Lunch Lady Land" to the kids, then dubbed in the graphic lyrics after the fact when he posted the video on YouTube.

Prosecutors are still going after him, noting that the law covers instances when suspects only make it appear as if children were abused. "The bottom line is he walked in took advantage and victimized every single child in that classroom,” said one official. Parents who saw their kids' smiling faces on the video are outraged. The video has been pulled from YouTube. (More viral video stories.)

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