Teen Boy Charged With Distributing Child Pornography After Sending Out Naked Pictures His Girlfriend Sent Him
By: Amanda Rye
New York
March 11, 2012
A young boy named Sam Wells, only 16, an honor roll student, and player on football team at Milton High school, has been charged and indicted with possession and distribution of child pornography (Galanos). After an argument with girlfriend of only a few months, Kaylin Green, he took a naked picture she had taken and sent to him, and forwarded it to a few of his friends. The picture quickly went viral and been sent to everyone including classmates, teachers, and their own parents. Kaylin’s family attorney has put out a statement saying, “They are deeply saddened in the actions of Sam and that Kaylin has greatly suffered since finding out. Her family asks that you please respect their privacy and to stop the harassment of Kaylin. She is embarrassed and has suffered enough, and urges all young girls not to make the same mistake.” Sam explains that the picture was sent to him without him asking as just a “flirty gesture, just like most girls at his school do (Shah).” He admits that he promised to delete the photo and keep it private, but in a heated argument the couple broke up. Once they were broken up he said he was mad and thought that sending this picture out would be his revenge. Once Kaylin’s parents learned what happened they went straight to the police. Shortly after, they arrested and charged Sam with felony possession and distribution of child pornography. The district attorney’s office has not charged Kaylin with any crime and decline to comment on whether they will or not. At this time Sam Wells has been indicted on these charges. His attorney said, “He will likely take a plea bargain with little to no jail time, but will have to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life.” According to “Megan’s Law,” anyone charged with this particular crime must register in a national database (Potter). Sam’s attorney says this will mean, “His family will have to move because he lives to close to an elementary school.” He will also be expelled from school, not allowed to play football, and will not be able to attend college because of the requirements of being on parole as a sex offender. Sam’s parents have been quoted saying, “They understand their son did a stupid thing and should be punished. However, they do think that being charged with this felony and forced to register as a sex offender will ruin and affect he rest of his life. They agree that their needs to be some kind of middle ground for these kinds of cases because this law was not meant for this; the law was meant for sexual predators, and Sam is clearly not one of them.” However the parents feel about it, here in New York, the laws have not caught up to the technology of our time. There are a few states. Such as Texas, where they are changing the laws to deal specifically with this epidemic of sexting; and it seems the rest of the states also need to find a better way to deal with this problem so the punishment truly fits the ‘crime.’ (U.S. Sexting Laws and Regulations).
To find out the laws in your state click here:
New York
March 11, 2012
A young boy named Sam Wells, only 16, an honor roll student, and player on football team at Milton High school, has been charged and indicted with possession and distribution of child pornography (Galanos). After an argument with girlfriend of only a few months, Kaylin Green, he took a naked picture she had taken and sent to him, and forwarded it to a few of his friends. The picture quickly went viral and been sent to everyone including classmates, teachers, and their own parents. Kaylin’s family attorney has put out a statement saying, “They are deeply saddened in the actions of Sam and that Kaylin has greatly suffered since finding out. Her family asks that you please respect their privacy and to stop the harassment of Kaylin. She is embarrassed and has suffered enough, and urges all young girls not to make the same mistake.” Sam explains that the picture was sent to him without him asking as just a “flirty gesture, just like most girls at his school do (Shah).” He admits that he promised to delete the photo and keep it private, but in a heated argument the couple broke up. Once they were broken up he said he was mad and thought that sending this picture out would be his revenge. Once Kaylin’s parents learned what happened they went straight to the police. Shortly after, they arrested and charged Sam with felony possession and distribution of child pornography. The district attorney’s office has not charged Kaylin with any crime and decline to comment on whether they will or not. At this time Sam Wells has been indicted on these charges. His attorney said, “He will likely take a plea bargain with little to no jail time, but will have to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life.” According to “Megan’s Law,” anyone charged with this particular crime must register in a national database (Potter). Sam’s attorney says this will mean, “His family will have to move because he lives to close to an elementary school.” He will also be expelled from school, not allowed to play football, and will not be able to attend college because of the requirements of being on parole as a sex offender. Sam’s parents have been quoted saying, “They understand their son did a stupid thing and should be punished. However, they do think that being charged with this felony and forced to register as a sex offender will ruin and affect he rest of his life. They agree that their needs to be some kind of middle ground for these kinds of cases because this law was not meant for this; the law was meant for sexual predators, and Sam is clearly not one of them.” However the parents feel about it, here in New York, the laws have not caught up to the technology of our time. There are a few states. Such as Texas, where they are changing the laws to deal specifically with this epidemic of sexting; and it seems the rest of the states also need to find a better way to deal with this problem so the punishment truly fits the ‘crime.’ (U.S. Sexting Laws and Regulations).
To find out the laws in your state click here:
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