The boy was charged in 3rd District Juvenile Court this month in connection with allegedly sending a 16-year-old girl naked pictures of himself and texts about "sexual matters," according to charging documents. He's facing three counts of dealing in harmful material to a minor, a 3rd-degree felony
The boy sent photos of his abs and groin to the girl and then asked her to send naked photos of herself to him, according to court documents. The girl told the boy no and asked him not to send any more, the documents state.
But sexually oriented text messages continued along with requests for her to respond with photos of herself, the documents state.
Six other students identified in court documents state they also received sexual text messages from the boy or photos that were "explicit" and "nude."
The boy confessed to West Jordan School officials that he'd sent inappropriate text messages and photos to students, according to court documents.
The case is the latest in a trend that is alarming parents, teachers, educators and law enforcement in several Utah counties.
The cell-phone issue made headlines in Davis County in January when police and school-district officials announced an investigation into several Farmington Junior High teenagers who traded nude photos of genitals, other body parts and information about sexual activities. Similar incidents were found at four other Davis County junior highs and three high schools.
Davis County Attorney Troy Rawlings said after news of the cell phone incidents surfaced, he received calls from other Utah counties asking how county prosecutors proceeded with the cases - evidence that nude photo trading between teens is widespread.
Melinda Colton, a spokeswoman for the Jordan School District, said schools have a strict policy against those who abuse technology at school.
