Parkland Students May Be Involved In Sexting Case

Law enforcement contacted Parkland Superintendent Richard Sniscak on Tuesday afternoon to alert him to the possibility that Parkland students may be involved in a sexting case under investigation by state, county and local authorities.

Parkland School District spokeswoman Nicole McGalla said authorities told Sniscak that nothing happened on school grounds. She did not know how many students might potentially be involved, names or grade level.

"It's a police matter," McGalla said. 

Also on Tuesday, Lehigh County District Attorney Jim Martin confirmed in a prepared release that his office is involved in the investigation into possible sexting and  on a website. The confirmation follows news stories that photographs of  students have been discovered on a pornographic website.

“I have decided to confirm that there is an investigation to assure the public 
that my office and other agencies are conducting a joint investigation to determine, who, if anyone, will be charged,” said Martin, who is up for reelection this November.

The initial objective will be to remove “offending materials from a website,” he added.

An online image board where users can post raunchy photos – with or without a subject’s consent – is one of the sites where nude pictures 
of teenage  girls are showing up. The site also contains at least one photo of a girl identified as a Parkland High School student.

Several Emmaus students told Patch that the photo-sharing scandal is old news among kids but only recently came to the attention of parents. One thread includes a photo of a topless teen – her face clearly visible - identified as “some Emmaus girl.” Other pictures are identified with a nickname or even a complete first and last name followed by the words “from Emmaus.”

The photos range from girls posing in bikinis or underwear to full frontal nudity and more graphic pictures. Users can search the site by state or by topics like “skinny,” “plump,” “military” and “brides,” in addition to X-rated terms. Some people on the site use their area code for identification or to seek photos of girls from their locale.

 began investigating how nude photos got on the site after parents began complaining last week. Multiple students told Patch that the scandal began with boys – including members of the lacrosse team - sharing pictures of ex-girlfriends. Some girls have bragged about being on the site while others are embarrassed and appalled.

Students and now researchers say it’s , share graphic images and post personal content online.

Lehigh County prosecutors and a child abuse investigator met Tuesday with representatives of the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office and the Pennsylvania State Police Computer Crime Task Force coordinator for southeastern Pennsylvania.

The investigation includes the Attorney General’s Office Child Predator Unit, the Emmaus Police Department, the Berks-Lehigh Police Department, the Pennsylvania State Police Computer Crime Task Force and detectives in the
Lehigh County Computer Crimes Task Force at the  of Lehigh County, which is on the campus of DeSales University in Center Valley.

Martin asked for the public to be patient as this investigation “could involve a very time-consuming process.”

 Schools can schedule a presentation on the dangers of sexting. Chief of Administration Christie Bonesch talks to students about the legal consequences of sexting and what can happen if they are charged as an adult or juvenile. To schedule a presentation, call the District Attorney’s Office at 610-782-3100.

Parkland school officials have been pro-active in talking to administrators, teachers, parents and students about the dangers of sexting, given its prevalence in society, McGalla said. The district brought in an expert, held seminars and trained teachers on the dangers of sexting, which can result in "a lifetime of regret" for students and their families, she said. Public Service Annoucements also were presented to middle school students.

"We don't veer away from controversial topics," McGalla said.