16-year-old Sweetwater boy pleads guilty to 'sexting'

16-year-old Sweetwater boy pleads guilty to 'sexting'

By HARLOW SUMERFORD
6 News Reporter

TELLICO PLAINS (WATE) -- A 16-year-old boy was the largest distributor of child pornography in Monroe County, according to Tellico Plains Police Chief Bill Isbell.

The Sweetwater teen pleaded guilty on charges of aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor.

According to police, the teen received a nude photograph on his cell phone from a 14-year-old girl. The fairly new use of technology is commonly called "sexting."

Police say the girl willingly sent the photograph to the boy and he downloaded it to the Internet using file sharing software.

Police had been monitoring computer use at the boy's home for months and on May 13, they raided the home.

Officers collected four computers, a digital camera, numerous cell phones and other items. Three of the computers contained a substantial amount of downloaded child pornography.

Police say the boy was distributing the porn all over the country.

"It is a growing problem called 'sexting; where children will take explicit photographs of themselves and share it with friends thinking it will go nowhere. When in fact, in this case, it winds up on the Internet. This is something that can haunt a child for the rest of their lives," Chief Isbell says.

According to police, aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor if a class B felony. For an adult, the charge carries a minimum sentence of 15 years. Because the boy is only 16, he's been placed on probation until his 19th birthday.

While on probation, he isn't allowed to use computers, except at school. He won't be allowed to own a cell phone or any device capable of connecting to the Internet.

Police haven't ruled out charging the 14-year-old girl in this case. Since she took the picture, there's a chance she could face charges relating to child pornography.