"The scope is large, and we have secured in evidence hundreds of images of students. . . . It's going on everywhere, my suspicion is, with modern technology."UPDATE 2/28/16: Sexting so Common, New Mexico Legalizes Self-produced Child Pornography
-- Supt. George Welsh, Cañon City Fremont RE-1 School District
For background, click headlines below to read previous articles:
Police Expose Colorado Students Sexting, Say Parents are Ignorant
Sexting Epidemic: Indiana & Illinois Schools, Police Say
Teens Jailed for Child Porn Group Sex Video in Illinois
Teen Students Learn to Produce & Distribute Child Pornography
Also read Education Experts Say: Relax Parents, Sexting is Simply How Kids Flirt Today
-- From "Canon City School District sexting investigation involves hundreds of photos, officials say" by The Associated press 11/6/15
The Canon City Daily Records reports that at a community meeting Thursday, District Superintendent George Welsh said that sexting between students is a nationwide issue, and that the district has had isolated incidents before, but nothing compared to the scale of the current investigation.
Officials say it is unclear how many people are involved in the taking and distributing of nude photographs or how long it has been occurring in the district.
Officials say many students who engage in risque behavior over text use applications to hide the photos on their phone [including Private Photo Vault], making discovery by parents or other authority figures more difficult.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Cañon City officials meet with parents to discuss sexting" posted at The Denver Post 11/5/15
On Wednesday, the district said several Cañon City High football players have been connected to the alleged activity and canceled this weekend's football game. The case has been handed over to Cañon City police.
At the parent meeting, the district attorney's office told parents it will make "reasonable decisions" about how to move forward. The school district said Wednesday that student reports and anonymous tips [via the Colorado Safe2Tell program] alerted administrators to the alleged student misconduct.
"I'm certainly not daunted," Fremont County District Attorney Tom LeDoux told the Gazette, speaking of the prospect of prosecuting unknown numbers of students.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "'Several hundred victims and people' could have been involved in Cañon City nude photo exchange" by Ryan Maye Handy, Colorado Springs Gazette 11/6/15
While investigators have uncovered hundreds of photos, they do not know how many students are involved, although Cañon City Police Chief Paul Schultz told parents that "several hundred victims and people" could have been involved in the photo exchange.
Cañon City is hardly the only school to deal with sexting, but the scope of the investigation could involved a large chunk of the school's 1,000-student population. [Supt.] Welsh repeatedly told parents that he suspects schools around country are grappling with the issue of how to deal with students who clandestinely use technology to "sext."
Some parents at Thursday's meeting voiced concerns that nude photo exchanges had been going on unchecked for years in Cañon City schools. One mother said her daughter, who graduated five years ago, said "girls traded nudes like trading cards." Welsh told parents he was not aware of previous issues with students exchanging nude photos on a mass scale, although individual instances have happened in the school before.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Cañon City School District to host community meeting in wake of 'nude photos' scandal" by DC Spencer, Cañon City Daily Record 11/4/15
"Our suspicions are that it's been going on several years," [Supt. Welsh] said. "We suspect for sure last year, because it looks like there were several kids involved who have graduated and moved on."
"It's our belief that not a single adult was aware this was going on," he said. "No indication in any way."
However, if ongoing investigations reveal otherwise, Welsh said appropriate action will be taken.
Welsh said the situation has "run so deep," staff is dealing with "how big this thing was."
Welsh said students involved range from eighth grade to seniors in high school.
"It's not a boys-exploiting-girls situation," he said. "There was equal participation in it by both genders."
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Colo. students in sexting scandal could face felony charges" posted at CBS News 11/6/15
"It was flooring to find so many and there are more we don't know about," said Principal Brett Meuli.
"The decision was made based on what we saw to call the police and at that point, you just need to hand over everything you got and let the criminal investigation proceed," said Superintendent George Welsh.
"I think it's important that parents and students understand that the mere possession of these materials does constitute an ongoing crime," said District Attorney Thom LeDeux.
The district attorney says he'll work on a case by case basis, but students could face felony charges.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Statement by Cañon City Fremont RE-1 School District"
The matter has been turned over to the Cañon City Police Department who explain the legal issues involved as follows: A person can be charged with a class 3 felony if they have taken a picture of themselves showing a naked private body part and sent it to another person, have received such a picture and forwarded it to another person, or have received such a picture and retained possession of it over time. Police representatives have said the primary focus of their investigation will be to determine if any adults were involved, and to determine whether any photos were coerced. Formal charges will be determined by the DA's office.
. . . However, no matter what the police investigation uncovers the Cañon City School District will hold its students accountable for their actions as outlined in district policies relating to cyber bullying, sexual harassment, and irresponsible behavior.
Most importantly, the Cañon City School District recognizes the need to formally address the 21st Century skill that all citizens use technology in a legal and ethical fashion. In the coming weeks the district will build a plan to further educate children regarding these concepts. Additionally, we highly encourage all parents to discuss this emerging issue related to modern technology directly with their children.
— Cañon City School District Superintendent George Welsh
To read the entire statement above, CLICK HERE.
Also read Sexting Sells! Most Adults Do It, NOT Just Teens
And read Homosexual Teacher in Illinois Sexting Boy, Resigns
