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LITTLE EGG HARBOR – A student at Pinelands Junior High School is facing serious criminal charges after allegedly posting an explicit video of a 12-year-old girl on social media.
Superintendent of Schools Melissa McCooley confirmed Thursday night that the Little Egg Harbor Police Department charged the student after he allegedly posted and shared the video which featured a female classmate. It is unclear whether or not the victim was friends with the boy or in a relationship with him.
In a letter posted on the school districts’ Facebook page, McCooley urges all parents to talk to their kids since many other students opted to share the video across various social media platforms.
She wrote “please understand that the student depicted in the video is 12 years old, therefore, this is classified as child pornography. Those reposting a video such as this could be subject to criminal charges as well.”
The letter also said “it is evident that students need additional education regarding the ramifications of sending inappropriate messages/videos and social media.”
McCooley added that she would be reaching out to the Ocean County Prosecutors Office for assistance with this matter.
Jersey Shore Online has reached out to both the Little Egg Harbor Police Department and the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office.
On the district social media page, many parents were quick to weigh in on the seriousness of the situation. Some were adamant in saying that kids shouldn’t have smartphones with access to cameras and the internet while others discussed how it’s unnecessary for anyone under the age of 18 to be on social media.
One parent wrote “Maybe it’s just me and I’m a little old school but I really don’t understand why it’s necessary for a child to have a cell phone in the first place. I get that we live in a different day and age but kids have access to the same content that we do no matter how much parental control you put on a phone.”
Another parent posted “After reading a lot of comments on this page it occurs to me that the reason this happened was because of the parents. Both his and hers. Her parents should have taught her enough self respect to not have even taken the photo or video at all and his parents should have taught him enough respect to not have shared it the way he did but instead tell his parents about it so it could be handled. It’s laughable that kids having phones is to blame. Cameras have been around forever. Most homes have digital cameras that can take the same photos. Try growing up and parent your kids.”
Pig
“Try growing up and parent your kids” – best line I’ve ever read. The entire comment that accompanied this line is spot on.
Colleen Lecuyer agreed
Love how it ends the article with it!!
Kids are so Stupid ?
Piece of shit, hope this stays with him and his family.
Social media needs to have a serious overhaul. The digital age is dangerous. Just 25 years ago for something to be spread you had to see the person it had to change hands, physically passed around. Everything today is so fast, so open and regret happens in less than the time it takes to think about the consequences.
Shits crazy on the internet lately spreads like a plague
Maddie Yockachonis
How terrible and scary the world is becoming, social media is going to ruin this generation ? my prayers are with this girls parents, I cannot imagine what they might be going through.. so so sad
Valeene Rivera
It already ruined the kids the problem is no is in school is talking about it and so new that the parents aren’t aware of it and even if they are no one is taking it seriously enough
In what world did this kid think this was ok?
Or the girl
Andy Nemec true but still
Seriously Scott Barnes.
First of all it’s 2019, it was bound to happen.
They BOTH made stupid decisions and that shouldn’t ruin their life.
The school article stated it was SHARED via social media and everyone is seeing POSTED on social media as if he posted it on FB.
It was probably shared on private message like messenger and I guarantee being 12 himself the last thing he was thinking was the fact that he was technically transmitted child porn. Sounds like they plan on “making an example” out of him as if that’s gonna stop it from happening again.
I dunno.
I just read it again, it says posted.
I just know at 12 he didn’t think he was committing such a serious offense.
Shame
Andy Nemec depends on the judge I guess. They probably are gunna make an example of the kid.
Scott Barnes in what world does a decent girl do what she did
Laura Lange you see, I never judge what in the laws eyes is the victim. Even if the KID willingly took those pics, the law will still go after the guy. When the pull the phone luds n texts we will see who gets burned
Crystal Pomaro
They’re 12.
They BOTH made stupid decisions.
Shouldn’t ruin their lives.
Andy Nemec The GIRL was 12 the boy is a junior in HIGHSCHOOL ! He deserved whatever he got !
It says the boy is from junior high school. Not a junior.
Michelle Borawski he’s a classmate from the same junior high school. Probably 12 also.
sorry but these kids need to learn lessons! This behavior is not ok!
He needs to learn that behavior is unacceptable and needs punishment. Boys getting away with things like will only progress into the Brock Turner’s of the world.
Ariana Voci Jr High is middle school lids are usually 11-13
according to news video was passed around they be charged too
Jackie Sue your almost making it sound like none of this was the girls fault. They are both at fault here. Because if you want to get technical she can be charged with distribution of child pornography for sharing the video of her self.
Andy Nemec 12 yr olds should NOT have free access to the internet. Take their phones away
Andy Nemec the boy was significantly older. That’s the problem. He is old enough to know better. That’s character right there. That says a lot.
Shanon Conlon Exel
Michelle Lee all the parents got an email about this last night. I’m so worried for our kids
Parents need to teach their children some morals and respect.
Why are kids even on social media. That’s like opening up the flood gates to hell . And not for nothing if you let your kid in on adult things such as social media than be prepared for the backlash and consequences that come with it. Social media is way too dangerous for kids.
Distribution of child pornography can be charged here. These kids dont get that this is a serious offense. I actually hope they make an example of him to get the point across.
Sarah Cioffi lmfao. And what about the girl ? She can’t go free. Hope her parents teach the little twat about self respect
Laura Schneider Lange well I’m not so sure making a video of yourself is illegal. Not so sure I’d call a 12 year old a twat for making a bad decision either.
Are you a parent Laura? Of a child over the age of 9? Or that doesnt have 4 legs?
Laura Schneider Lange the only thing that should happen to the girl is that her parents should enroll her in therapy and self esteem courses and also try to get to the root of why she allowed the recording. If only YOUR bad decisions were recorded and blasted on social media, huh? Oh wait they just were. You called a child a twat.
Laura Schneider Lange she’s 12 ?♀️
hmmm. You wouldn’t call a 12 year old a “twat” for making a bad decision, but you have no problem sentencing another to a lifetime of registering as a sex offender for making a bad decision?
Lots of education all around for him, her, their parents, and apparently you.
Drew Zaun unless someone is made an example of we are going to have loads of young people committing this crime. I also never said what he should be charged with just that he should be.
Laura Lange little twat? And you are who or what to pass such judgement?
Tell your kids not to even think about taking or sending or accepting a nude selfie from a peer bc eventhough they are all kids it is still child porn. No way jose don’t even think about it.
Maura Lee but who would even think kids that young would be doing stuff like that??
Rose Schatz Alfano I didn’t until my son came home from school and told me a classmate got on trouble for it (6th grade!!)
Maura Lee are you saying to put both of them on a registry? That’s what it would entail
I think it’s unfair to blame the parents totally in this situation. You can try to teach your children all you want, but unfortunately some will do what they want. Social media and the influence of other peers can affect a child’s behavior. And regardless if your child is on social media or not, they will find out about those things. As a mom to 2 boys and 1 girl, it scares me of what’s to come.
Taylor McKeon very smart thinking
Taylor McKeon exactly, people love to point fingers and place blame until it happens to them.
Agreed
Was Joe Biden or Bob Menendez involved?
How can anyone blame the boy only?
Both are kids. The girl is just as guilty having sex, doing sexual things, having it videoed… shouldn’t have been sent to anyone, but at 12 they don’t think like adults. They don’t understand the ramifications. Should his entire life be ruined? Have to register as a sex offender the rest of his life?
Sharon Lynn Huber she’s 12 and peer pressure from someone like a this boy.
Are you seriously victim blaming? She sent it to ONE boy. He purposefully published this on social media and it will ALWAYS exist on the internet.
She is 12…12 years old. Regardless if she “thinks” she understands, she doesn’t. She is a 12 year old child!
Sharon Lynn Huber there is a strong possibility that she didnt know it was going to be shared. If she knew then that changes things.
Sharon Lynn Huber maybe n more than likely she was coerced
Mike Malinowski
We should be helping this young girl in a way that she doesnt neednto be doing this at such a young age! Maybe she needs some more guidance and understanding her worth as a girl and that she owns her body. Maybe not. I don’t know her. But to me it’s sad that she feels such a way to be doing this at 12. How old was the boy?
Jessica Marie Lerch either way it’s not the girls fault the boy shared it for the world to see??♂️
Shar Fry noo absolutely not her fault. Didnt mean it in that matter. Just everyone is focusing on this boy. Let’s help this girl too. U get what I’m saying.
Social media is a disease that is ruining society and the lives of both kids and adults.
Dan Bibaud throw in some movies and tv shows also
When society idolizes celebrities aka the kardashians who became “famous” for making a sex tape this is what it does to our children. They think it’s cool and perfectly acceptable. They have no idea that it’s completely immoral, dangerous and hurtful SMDH
He shared it all over the internet for everyone to see. That’s a lot different than the girl taking a video of herself and possibly sending it to only one person.
Christina Trotter
Skye Marie Williams so disgusting
Even kids that are raised in good homes with good parenting, morals, and values have done heinous things. There many be many variables that played a part in this happening. We cant just completly blame the parents. But regardless, I’m sure that both parties involved learned a good, hard lesson.
So let’s ruin a young boys life because he thinks like a juvenile. Oh that’s right, he is. If they are pressing charges against him, then she’s just as guilty.
Leigh Anne Sullivan also everyone that forwarded or reposted it will be charged with child pornography
HE shared a video of a minor apparently doing things of sexual nature. Having sex is NOT a crime but sharing child porn IS. So why should she be charged??
Although very awkward
..the Prosecutor came to orientation for the new entering middleschoolers and spoke about this. She told them all what the consequences were. She does so every year and many times throughout the year.
Awkward because my 10 yr old daughter said to me “pictures? What does she mean pictures?” Its a shame we had to have this discussion. Even if a child receives a pic it can be considered possession of child porn. It is very serious.
Sarah Cioffi depends on how conservative the judge is
im 23 I was raised in Hunterdon County in middle school we got lectured every year on sexting and child pornography. Its not like these kids aren’t warned about it.
Well it finally happened, they’re going to make an example out of them.
This happens more than people know. It usually ends with a slap on the wrist as it could end your child up on the registered sex offenders list.
STOP GIVING CHILDREN PHONES.
Happened with my daughter amongst others Sicko kid in our neighborhood taking pictures off of social media and sending them to porn sites in other countries. TOTALLY NORMAL pictures from our family vacations, other girls on the bus, in classrooms etc…. Literally slap on the wrist. School ignored it and law enforcement couldn’t do anything. The pornographic pictures he took that were of his own underage family members were kept “in the family “ and handles on their own privately. DISGUSTING