"Sexting" hits close to home

Seven teenagers in Fayette county face charges following an investigation by the Fayette County Sheriff's Office involving "sexting" allegedly done by students from North Fayette Valley High School, North Fayette Middle School and Starmont High School.

The investigation began after deputies were notified of the incidents by parents and school officials.

At North Fayette Valley High School three students were charged--a 16-year-old male with Third Degree Harassment for possession and distribution of inappropriate photographs of a minor; a 15-year-old female for possession of a controlled substance and drug paraphernalia; and 16-year-old Lilly Ann McIntyre of West Union for sexual exploitation of a minor, an aggravated misdemeanor, possession and delivery of the controlled substance marijuana, a class "D" felony, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

At North Fayette Middle School a 13-year-old male was charged with Invasion of privacy, a serious misdemeanor, for taking a secret photograph of a student in the restroom.

At Starmont High School three students were charged--a 15-year-old male with Invasion of privacy for taking an inappropriate photograph of a student without their knowledge and Third Degree Harassment, a simple misdemeanor;  a 15-year-old male with Third Degree Harassment; and  a 15-year-old female for Invasion of privacy for taking an inappropriate photograph of a student without their knowledge and with Third Degree Harassment.

Deputies are examining cell phones.  More charges could be filed at a later date.

Fayette County Sheriff Marty Fisher is reminding parents and/or guardians to monitor your children's electronic devices, know what they are looking at and what kind of content they have on their phones.  It is also important to communicate with your children so that they understand the consequences of these actions and that this kind of behavior is against the law and they can be criminally charged for such actions.