A New Government Benefit. The Government WILL discipline your child.

[Msaural]

Parents, if you don't take the time to teach your children to know right from wrong, if you are too busy with your own lives to supervise your child's activities, if you can't and/or refuse to discipline your children, the Government will gladly do it for you! While your punishment may amount to taking away their cellphone or computer, and may also include grounding for a period of time, think about this, the alternative if you don't is that the Government's punishment will last a lifetime.

NJ girl, 14, arrested after posting nude pics

• By BETH DeFALCO, Associated Press Writer Beth Defalco, Associated Press Writer - Thu Mar 26, 6:39 pm ET

TRENTON, N.J. - A 14-year-old New Jersey girl has been accused of child pornography after posting nearly 30 explicit nude pictures of herself on MySpace.com - charges that could force her to register as a sex offender if convicted.

The case comes as prosecutors nationwide pursue child pornography cases resulting from kids sending nude photos to one another over cell phones and e-mail. Legal experts, though, could not recall another case of a child porn charge resulting from a teen's posting to a social networking site.

MySpace would not comment on the New Jersey investigation, but the company has a team that reviews its network for inappropriate images. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children tipped off a state task force, which alerted the Passaic County Sheriff's Office.

The office investigated and discovered the Clifton resident had posted the "very explicit" photos of herself, sheriff's spokesman Bill Maer said Thursday.

"We consider this case a wake-up call to parents," Maer said. The girl posted the photos because "she wanted her boyfriend to see them," he said.

Investigators are looking at individuals who "knowingly" committed a crime, he said, declining to comment further because the case is still being investigated.

The teen, whose name has not been released because of her age, was arrested and charged with possession of child pornography and distribution of child pornography. She was released to her mother's custody.

If convicted of the distribution charge, she would be forced to register with the state as a sex offender under Megan's Law, said state Attorney General Anne Milgram. She also could face up to 17 years in jail, though such a stiff sentence is unlikely.

Some observers - including the New Jersey mother behind the creation of Megan's Law - are criticizing the trend of prosecuting teens who send racy text messages or post illicit photos of themselves.

Maureen Kanka - whose daughter, Megan, became the law's namesake after she was raped and killed at age 7 in 1994 by a twice-convicted sex offender - blasted authorities for charging the 14-year-old girl.

The teen needs help, not legal trouble, she said.

"This shouldn't fall under Megan's Law in any way, shape or form. She should have an intervention and counseling, because the only person she exploited was herself."

Called "sexting" when it's done by cell phone, teenagers' habit of sending sexually suggestive photos of themselves and others to one another is a nationwide problem that has confounded parents, school administrators and law enforcers.

Prosecutors in states including Pennsylvania, Connecticut, North Dakota, Ohio, Utah, Vermont, Virginia and Wisconsin have tried stop it by charging teens who send and receive the pictures.

In northeastern Pennsylvania, a prosecutor recently threatened to file child porn charges against three teenage girls who authorities say took racy cell-phone pictures that ended up on classmates' cell phones.

The MySpace case may be a first, though.

"I'm not sure I've seen a prosecution like this coming out of a social networking site," said Seth Kreimer, a constitutional law professor at the University of Pennsylvania.

Milgram, the attorney general, could not recall another such case in New Jersey. She cautioned parents to get on those sites and monitor what their kids are talking about and posting.

"Unfortunately, youth don't have the same judgment as adults," she said, "and often, adults don't have the same technical savvy as the youth."

 

 

[Lb128f]

Mar. 27, 2009 at 7:20 AM

Wow.

[jramsaran]

Mar. 27, 2009 at 10:12 AM

is there really a difference if the 14 year old put the pics up?  it is child pornography.  i don't think they'll convict her, but at least it'll make her and other's think twice before doing something this stupid that they will probably regret for the rest of their lives.

[Lindalu2]

Mar. 27, 2009 at 10:22 AM

Where are the girl's parents and why does she have a boyfriend at the age of 14? There is no way my dughters or their daughters would ever think of posing nude for anyone , let alone take photos! We were all modest and sheilded ourselves and our bodies from nasty eyes. We told our daughters to keep clothes on and not to let anyone see their bodies except,of course ,for Mom and the Pediatrician/family doctor. There should be some instructive talks about sex, proper behavior, privacy and decency and obviously,this girl's parents were too busy to bother.

[Lindalu2]

Mar. 27, 2009 at 10:23 AM

Part 2 of my "Rant". If the parents are too lax and irresponsible, the police are going to step in and show the family and the girl how wrong she is. Its a sick thing. WHat is happening to the young people? So depressing!

[Charweba]

Mar. 27, 2009 at 12:47 PM

wow. Where are her parents?? Boy my mom, dad, uncle, aunt, grandmother, grandfather,etc would have whooped my ass!!! I thought there was an age limit on myspace anyway?? All I can say is oh well she brought that on herself.

[Anouck]

Mar. 27, 2009 at 12:58 PM

Personally, I think that girl's parents should have been arrested... How could they not know what their kid was up to??? Crazy! I personally don't think she'll be convicted as a sex offender, but I sure hope this serves as a wake up message for both her and her parents...

[rebabeach2]

Mar. 28, 2009 at 11:25 AM

I agree. The parents need to be held equally accountable in this situation.