Manassas Detective Sues Lawyer for Defamation in Teen Sexting Case

The lead detective in a teen sexting case earlier this year, in which Manassas police asked for pictures of a teenage boy’s erect penis to compare to the images he reportedly sent his 15-year-old girlfriend, has filed a defamation lawsuit against a lawyer from the case, according to The Washington Post.

Detective David E. Abbott of the Manassas Police Department is suing Jessica Harbeson Foster, a defense attorney who defended the 17-year-old boy in court. Abbott filed his lawsuit Oct. 23 for comments Foster reportedly made to The Washington Post in July.

In The Post article, Foster was quoted in the story saying Abbott had told her he would “use special software to compare pictures of this penis to this penis.” Foster then commented on Abbott’s alleged words, saying, “Who does this? It’s just crazy.”

The teenage boy had been charged with manufacturing and distributing child pornography in January after his girlfriend’s parents saw the images and contacted Manassas City Police, according to a statement released by police in July.

Abbott’s lawsuit states that Foster misrepresented his conversation with her and that her comment that the request was “crazy” calls into question Abbott’s ability to perform his duties as an officer of the law, according to The Post.

The lawsuit also alleges Abbott suffered scrutiny from the media and the public, embarrassment, shame, and emotional distress which led to counseling and need for medication.

Lawyers think Abbott has a small chance of winning the case, according to The Post, because Foster’s comments are considered opinion and hyperbole and are protected under her constitutional right to free speech.

Read more at The Washington Post.

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