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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2009
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Pa. Parents Fire Back at Sexting Charges

Team with ACLU, sue DA over teens' felony child-porn cases

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(Newser) – A Pennsylvania district attorney is trying to snuff out “sexting” by threatening felony child-pornography charges for teens who have taken, appeared in, or sent naughty pictures, the Wall Street Journal reports. But while many capitulated, the parents of three others have teamed with the ACLU to sue George Skumanick instead, saying he’s violated freedom-of-expression laws.

One of those three was a girl photographed in a bra at a slumber party when she was 12. In March, a federal judge said the suit may be successful, and has temporarily barred the DA from charging the teens. Skumanick notes that he offers a class as an alternative to the porn charges, which he didn't have to. “We thought we were being progressive,” he says.

Distributing nude photos of fellow teens can result in felony child-porn charges.
Distributing nude photos of fellow teens can result in felony child-porn charges.   (Creative Commons)
The ACLU and a group of parents are suing a Pennsylvania district attorney for violating teens' freedom-of-expression rights in a so-called
The ACLU and a group of parents are suing a Pennsylvania district attorney for violating teens' freedom-of-expression rights in a so-called "sexting" case.   (Creative Commons)
"I think the worst punishment is knowing that all you old guys saw me naked," one 17-year-old told investigators.   (Creative Commons)
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The whole tawdry episode seems to call for a little parental guidance and a pop-gun approach, not a Howitzer approach with a felony prosecution. - Louis Natali, law professor at Temple

Mr. Skumanick explained his offer to the crowd, answering one father's question, that — yes — a girl in a bathing suit could be subjected to criminal charges because she was posed "provocatively." - Dionne Searcey

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3 comments
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freethemall
Apr 21, 09 10:28 AM CDT
If a minor can be charged with possession of child pornography for having naughty pictures of their self, I wonder if they could be charged with "sexual conduct with a minor" if caught masturbating. Reply
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Reader67849484
Apr 22, 09 1:48 PM CDT
good Reply
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radnip
Apr 23, 09 4:29 AM CDT
Attention Pedophiles: Here's how to get your teen locked up with you -- get him/her to send someone a naked picture of themselves! With all the sex predator registration, you can just check registration registries after that to stalk your teen! It's putting your government to work for you! Reply
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