A sheriff is telling parents to monitor their kids' cell phone activity as seven teenagers now face criminal charges involving either drug possession or taking and sending pictures of minors.
The sheriff's office has been investigating over the last two weeks after parents and school officials notified it. The incidents involve students from three Fayette County schools.
North Fayette Valley High School:- A 16 year old boy faces a 3rd degree harassment charge for possession and forwarding inappropriate photographs of a minor.- A 15 year old girl faces a drug possession charge.- And Lilly Ann McIntyre, who is 16 and from West Union, faces sexual exploitation of a minor and a felony charge of possession and delivery of marijuana and a state charge of drug possession.
North Fayette Middle School: - A 13 year old was charged with invasion of privacy for taking a picture of a student in the bathroom without their knowledge.
Starmont High School: -A 15 year old boy was charged with Invasion of privacy for taking an inappropriate photograph of a student without their knowledge and harassment in the 3rd degree.-A 15 year old boy was charged with harassment in the 3rd degree.-A 15 year old female faces charges for invasion of privacy for taking an inappropriate photograph of a student without their knowledge and 3rd degree harassment.
Authorities are looking at cell phones and investigating these incidents further. There could be more charges filed.
Under Iowa law, harassment includes disseminating, publishing, distributing, and posting (or causing someone to do such) a picture or video showing another person in a state of full or partial nudity or engaging in a sex act.