TRENTON, New Jersey — 14-year-old New Jersey girl has been accused of child pornography for posting nearly 30 explicit nude pictures of herself on MySpace.com — charges that could force her to register as a sex offender if convicted.
The case comes as prosecutors nationwide pursue child pornography cases resulting from kids sending nude photos to one another over cell phones and e-mail.
Legal experts, though, could not recall another case of a child pornography charge resulting from a teen's posting to a social networking site.
MySpace would not comment on the New Jersey investigation, but the company has a team that reviews its network for inappropriate images.
In the New Jersey case, the Passaic County Sheriff's Office investigated and discovered the girl had posted the "very explicit" photos of herself, sheriff's spokesman Bill Maer said Thursday.
"We consider this case a wake-up call to parents," Maer said. The girl posted the photos because "she wanted her boyfriend to see them," he said.
The teen, whose name has not been released because of her age, was charged with possession and distribution of child pornography. She was released to her mother's custody.
If convicted of the distribution charge, she would be forced to register with the state as a sex offender. She also could face up to 17 years in jail, though such a stiff sentence is unlikely.
That is a No! No!
Source: AP via FoxNews
