Teens Charged After Photo of Sex Act Posted to Twitter

From left, Gregory Kwapik, Nicholas Kelly and Ryan Modaffare, all of Chesterfield Township, have been charged with felonies after a picture of the alleged assault of a Michigan 15-year-old ended up on Twitter. (Photos via Macomb County Sheriff’s Office)

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Three Macomb County teenagers are facing felony charges after a picture one of them allegedly took showing the other two engaged in a sex act with a 15-year-old girl was posted on Twitter.

The Macomb County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release that the three Chesterfield Township teens, all 17, were arraigned in 41A District court in Shelby Township Tuesday, where they were ordered held on $100,000 personal bond, the Detroit Free Press reports.

The charges against them:

• Ryan A. Modaffare: one count of child sexul abusive activity – distributing or promotion (seven-year felony);
• Gregory A. Kwapik: third-degree criminal sexual conduct (15-year felony)
• Nicholas G. Kelly: one count of child sexul abusive activity – distributing or promotion and one count of third-degree criminal sexual conduct.

Their next court date is Jan. 20.

Macomb County Sheriff Anthony Wickersham said the three teens turned themselves in Tuesday morning. The sheriff’s department was notified of the picture after a student – not the victim – reported it to officials at L’Anse Creuse High School before Christmas break.

The picture was allegedly taken around Thanksgiving at the girl’s home in Macomb Township. A fourth 17-year-old was present, but wasn’t involved, officials said. The picture was taken without the 15-year-old’s knowledge, WDIV-TV reports.

One of the teens is accused to sending the photo as a message to others, who then posted it on the Twitter account of another L’Anse Creuse High School student, according to the release.

Also on Patch:

• 50 Texting Terms Your Kids Don’t Want You to Know
• Rochester Area Teens Could Face Felonies for Sexting
• Teen’s Nude Selfie Turns Into 5-Year Nightmare
• Sexting and Kids: Should Advent of ‘Sexting’ Prompt Legal Reform?

In a written statement Tuesday, L’Anse Creuse Public Schools Superintendent Jackie Johnston said school officials are “deeply saddened for all those involved.”

“While the alleged incident did not occur on district property or during school hours, we understand the impact on our school community,” Johnston wrote. “As always, student safety is our number one priority and we have staff available for students needing support during this difficult time.”

District spokeswoman Kelly Allen said the teens charged in the incident won’t be able to return to school until the district completes its own investigation.

Psychologist: 85 Percent of Teens Have ”Sexting” Technology at Their Fingertips

Wickersham said “sexting” is a growing problem because teens have the technological capability to post pictures and videos on social media at the fingertips. They might not realize it, he said, but “it is criminal,” he said.

About 98 percent of older teens have a smartphone with photo and video capabilities, Dan O’Neil, a psychologist at the Birmingham Maple Clinic, told WDIV-TV.

Though they’ve been warned about the legal consequences of electronically sharing sexually explicit material, it’s important to “remember we’re dealing with an adolescent brain,” he said. “An adolescent brain is like all the components of a hi-fi system that aren’t connected.”

Sexting can be a life-changing decision.

“Not only are you facing felony and potential prison time for this distribution,” legal expert Todd Flood told the TV station, “but it is pretty much changing the trajectory of your life.”