The 15-year-old Presque Isle High School student accused of threatening female students to send him explicit images has been charged with 16 counts of a felony.
The student was expelled by a vote of the Maine School Administrative District 1 board Wednesday evening and was charged Friday with 16 counts of attempted sexual exploitation of a minor, according to Presque Isle police detective Kris Beck.
The number of counts represents the 16 victims from Presque Isle middle and high schools, ranging in age from 12 to 17, Beck said. Each charge is a class C felony, which in Maine is punishable with up to five years in prison and a $5,000 fine.
The male student, who has not been identified because he is a juvenile, allegedly solicited nude smartphone photographs of female students by attempting to blackmail them, Beck said.
“If the girls did not comply with the demand, the juvenile threatened to release embarrassing information or flat out make up embarrassing information about the girls and spread the information,” Beck said in a media release.
He added that it does not appear the student shared the photos with anyone else or followed through on any of his threats.
Beck said the incidents occurred over July and August and came to light during the second week of classes when one of the victims told a school social worker. After the social worker alerted them, school district officials contacted the police, suspended the student and later expelled him.
According to a 2009 survey by the Pew Research Center, approximately 20 percent of teenagers admitted to being involved with “sexting,” including receiving or forwarding photos, while 4 percent said they had sent a photo of themselves.
“Sexting” is legal for consenting adults. Those who possess or distribute nude images of minors in Maine, however, are breaking the law and can face a host of charges, including possession of child pornography.
To reach a sexual assault advocate, call the Statewide Sexual Assault Crisis and Support Line at 800-871-7741, TTY 888-458-5599. This free and confidential 24-hour service is accessible from anywhere in Maine. Calls are automatically routed to the closest sexual violence service provider.
