Four Century Middle Schoolers Charged By County in Photo Incident

Four Lakeville students have been charged with gross misdemeanors for their alleged roles in taking and sharing inappropriate photos and videos of two female students undressing in a locker room of .

In a story that was for what the district then described as a privacy violation of a student.

Today, Dakota County Attorney James Backstrom revealed the circumstances of the incident and that four of the students involved will face charges in juvenile court.

Two boys, one 13 and one 14-years-old, each face charges of Conspiracy to Commit Interference of Privacy and Criminal Defamation. A 14-year-old girl faces a charge of Interference With Privacy and Criminal Defamation, while another 14-year-old faces a single charge of Interference With Privacy.

According to a statement made by Dakota County Attorney James Backstrom, the investigation revealed the incident stemmed from a game the two boys charged had created at school. The game involved taking photos of female students buttocks while in the hallway at school, then forwarding the images to others.

The situation escalated, however, when the two boys charged offered one of the girls charged $5 and a can of soda to take inappropriate photos in the locker room at the school.

One girl agreed, and the other, after a bit urging, did as well, and both took a number of inappropriate photos and videos on their cell phones of two female victims undressing in the girls locker room at the school. The photos and videos were then forwarded to the boys who then subsequently sent them to other students. Backstrom's statement said  more than 40 students likely received images and video.

Backstrom said in a statement that he hopes the students realize the harmful nature of their actions.

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