No Charges For Wakefield Student Accused Of Posting Girls' Photos

WAKEFIELD, MA — The actions of a Wakefield student accused of posting hundreds of photos of female students on a social media site did not meet criminal standards, authorities announced Friday night.

Wakefield Police Chief Steven Skory released the results of the nearly two-month investigation through a spokesperson Friday night, saying the department worked with Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan's office to exhaust all investigatory and legal resources.

"Our investigators determined that while the male student exercised poor judgement and engaged in questionable conduct, the matter did not meet the standard of a crime," Skory said.

Police also investigated an allegation of sexual assault against the student, but found it to be "false and unfounded."

Most of the roughly 250 photos put on the social media site were taken from the female students' other social accounts, though some were taken by the male student on his phone without the knowledge of the girls, police said. Police said none of the photos were sexually explicit.

Police said the matter will now be dealt with by Wakefield Public Schools, which has come under fire for its handling of the situation. The student's return from a monthlong suspension was put on hold following parent protests that garnered significant media attention.

Skory, who met with parents of the students involved, implored all parents to talk with their children about social media.

"It is extremely important that we work together as a community to monitor and educate our children about how to safely navigate the challenges that come with social media use," Skory said. "Social media is one of the most challenging variables the modern child faces, and as parents and educators we must be involved in helping prevent poor choices by our children online."

The Middlesex District Attorney’s Office offers a free Cyber-Education Training to help students navigate the social media world.