12 Boys Arrested for Sexting at New Trier Will Be Sent to Peer Jury

Updated Oct. 21:

A dozen teen-age boys at New Trier High School have been arrested following a monthlong investigation into sexting in which “lewd, nude photos of students” were distributed via text and Facebook.

The boys are accused of trading and/or sharing nude images of others under the age of 18. The boys, who are all 15 or 16, were arrested between Oct. 14 and 17 for distribution of harmful material to a minor, Winnetka police said.

“We want to send a message to students that these digital images last forever,” Winnetka Deputy Police Chief Joe Pellus told the Chicago Tribune on Tuesday after announcing the arrests. “These friends and acquaintances you send pictures to now may not be your friends in the future. But the images you send will be on a website forever. ... These were lewd, nude photos of students received by other students.”

All of the accused teens have been referred to a New Trier Township peer jury program. Two years ago, when six New Trier high schoolers were arrested in a sexting investigation, all of the accused also were referred to a peer jury. In a peer jury, the accused are interviewed by fellow high school students and the students set punishment, such as community service or the writing of a paper about the offense. If the terms are completed, the arrest could be wiped off the offender’s record.

The investigation was initiated by New Trier High School officials who told police they discovered the situation, police said.

In an email sent to parents, reports My Fox Chicago, Superintendent Linda Yonke explains that students had taken, sent or received inappropriate photos of other students or of themselves. Some of the students did not know that the photos had been taken.

Parents in the district are shocked their children could be engaging in such behavior.

“It’s so hard because technology has its good and its bad. And you hate when the bad comes out and they still seem so young at this age,” parent Liz Eisenstein told My Fox Chicago.

LEARN MORE ABOUT TEEN SEXTING

Sexting among teen-agers has been in the news for a while. In some ways, it’s a natural extension of teen-age sexual exploration. In other ways, it’s reflective of how teen-agers don’t consider the long-term ramifications of their actions. Atlantic Monthly has featured a few teen-age sexting reports in recent years.

» Why Kids Sext: An inquiry into one recent scandal reveals how kids think about sexting—and what parents and police should do about it.

» It’s Not Just About Showing Your Genitals: Around one in four teenagers has sent venereal texts or emails, and those who have are about seven times more likely to have old-fashioned, body-on-body sex.