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WATERLDOCMQI' »- - «- ,lune29.201103 ornamental wood MacDonald‘ VISA! mamas leave if deck kitchenerkiacom @ decks Snub-“admo- pergolus (ASH-1794680 519-511-2828 _ Sext crimes 0 ~ 0 I O O O O Police warn local youth about legal implwauons of textmg exphczt photos i BY PAIGE DBMOND of girls on their phone,‘ Roy said. “People l Ch romcle Staff just don‘t learn from it, “No one really thinks" k tephanie Roy would never text a sexy West agreed. S photo of herself to anyone. Girls who “Every time i go through a guy's cell do so get labeled as slutsâ€"especially phone there’s so many pictures,” she said. when the guy who received the photo shows “Guys expect iL” it to others. she said. West said girls are pressured to send One of Debbie West's friends suffered ' provocative photos to guys that fate after she and her longtime 3 According to police, no charges have boyfriend broke up. The photos she texted . . ‘ f been laid related to the sexting incidents him ended up being shown to the hockey t 5,5; is by. ' ' investigated. Thanks to options in the Youth team. Swirl. Criminal Justice Act, Heinzel said. other it's a trend that has hit Waterloo Region. e,..4"‘.,‘ 5 consequences such as community service ”lire region's youth are sexting. ”Us? 1 7 have been meted out. “It happens all the time." Roy said. “It's £53 as; ”There are other options available under going to become a huge problem." g the Youth Criminal lustice Act to be diver- Roy and West attend St. Mary's Catholic 351253215545 sions," Heinzel said. “Even though igno- High School in Kitchener and Waterlooâ€" a, ” rance of the law is no excuse. we’re trying to Oxford District Secondary School in Baden. 5 work proactively with the youth." According to Roy, she can think of at least “if“ . ,~ . in the event someone is feeling bullied 20 times in the past year that she's heard of i‘“f’~ 3 ~ -. because of a sexting incident. Heinzel said ‘ girls at area high schools texting pictures of if; , ' . 1 ‘“ other criminal charges could be brought themselves to guys. gifts: “h“ ' " ' into play. Often. the picture does not stay private ' . "At this point our focus is on the child and is redistributed to others. Roy and West pornography aspect but we could see an said it ends with the girl being teased and (instance) when someone might feel that called a slut. they have been bullied," he said. The Waterloo Regional Police Service Charges of criminal harassment related (WRPS) picked up on the fad, investigating to that type of intimidation could be rele- incidents in the region of youth using cell vant. phones to share nude and almost-nude pic» An education campaign. with coopera- tures of themselves or othersâ€"sexting. tion from the Waterloo Region District and Public personalities like US. Congress» Catholic School Boards will be rolled out in man Anthony Weiner have made news for the fall. Shewchuk said. their own scandals involving sexting, as have Shewchuk and Heinzel said they are celebrities such as Blake Lively. encouraging parents to discuss the issue But. local police are warning that a nude with their kids or partially nude image taken of a person “There's a responsibility here.” he said. under the age of 18 years for a sexual pur~ "The problem we have in the school system pose is considered child pornography, even ' is we have the kids most of the day. but we if it is distributed to someone who is also POW? have investigated 11 593509 incidents, i"“'°|\fil"'9 more than 50 students, in the region. can't control them out of the classroom." under the age of 18. mm") Investigators are urging anyone who has Anyone who possesses sexted images or investigations so they have seen the impact spot, it's happeningin other schools." received child pornography to contact who distributes them can be charged with a of (child pomography.)” The nature of the incidents varied. he police. Recipients will not be charged if their " I criminal offence. Once an image is captured on a cell said. but there were issues of photos being sole reason for keeping the image is for the Olaf lleinzel. public affairs coordinator phone. it’s digital and almost impossible to spread to Facebook and being sent en masse purpose of reporting it to police. for WRPS, said more than 50 students have completely eradicate, especially if it makes to different people. “We would encourage anyone who has been involved in 1 l sexting investigations its way to the intemct or a social networking And it wasn‘t just senior high school stu- not reported an incident in the past to call since lanuary in various senior elementary site like Facebook. llcinzel said. dents who were caught up in sexting. us," Heinzel said. and high schools. lohn Shewchuk. chief managing officer “It's not just high school kids." Shewchuk Anyone with information is asked to con- 1 Following increasing complaints from for the Waterloo Catholic District School said. “You've got some real youngsters get- tact the major case unit at 519-650-8500 ext. ’ students, teachers and parents lleimel said Board. said the board found out about the tinginvolved in this.“ 8671. www.waterloocrimestoppers.ca or text l investigators in the major crimes unit were issue after complaints from students, Roy and West said they didn‘t realm? the a message to CRlMES (274637) and have ‘ concerned. "There had been some incidents and it's legal implications of sexting. but both have TIP152 at the beginning of the message. ‘ ‘ "We don't want to see any child netim- a case of where there's smoke. there's fire," doubts that it will stop. A tip sheet for students and parents is ‘ iu-d," Heinzel said. ‘lnvestigators have other Shewchuk said. “if it‘s happening in one “Guys expect other guys to have pictures available at wwwwrpson.m. ; I www.waterloochron|cle.ca From the latest information on local politics, to minor sports scores, an I I», to what's going on down the street, visit mmaterloochronlcleca for it all. 't~‘v M . ‘ ‘ 1 h f"? ‘ â€"Serving)our community since 1856 “â€" ” if WATERLOO CHRONICLE _ k .w Av