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They are the victims
The kind of charges that don't go away when you turn 18 and start applying for college: possession and distribution of child pornography. Those words create a stigma unlike many others— police know it, and they're serious.
But, they want local teens to know the crime is serious too. In Franklin County, it's not how they picture their sons and daughters.
Major Josh Carter, Franklin County Sheriff's Office - "It's not something that you deal with every day."
It's certainly not how they want anyone else picturing them either.
Major Carter - "In fact, it's kind of disheartening when you hear about it."
For more than two months, investigators met with children -- victimized by their own actions. They spoke with their parents and their teachers; poured over phone records, and surfed the Internet, trying to find out just how much damage had been done.
Major Carter - "It's difficult. It was a forensically difficult case."
The pictures and videos floating around traveled by phone. Any person who took one -- even a self-image -- attached it to a message, or received one in another committed a felony. If they did it in Franklin County, the sheriff wanted to know about it.
Major Carter - "It's absolutely serious, you know? That they understand the kind of repercussion that something like this can have on their future -- not only their personal image, as the public sees them, but they're criminal record too."
To date, four teenagers have been charged with possession and/or distribution of child pornography as a result of the investigation -- all for the 21st Century version of flashing your boyfriend at the drive-in.
Times are different, and so is this. It's documented, it's real, it's serious, and now -- they know it.
Major Carter - "I hope they do. I hope they remember it, and I hope they pass it on to their friends."
Of the four children charged in Franklin County, two saw felony charges for possession and distribution. Two, only misdemeanors for possession. The felony could carry up to twenty years, but won't in this case. Major Carter says the judge will revisit sentencing after the kids each write essays and do community service.
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