Watch CBS News

Middle School Students Suspended After Sexting Semi-Nude Photos

CEDAR SPRINGS (WWJ/AP) - Four students at a West Michigan middle school have been suspended for at least one week after officials learned they were texting semi-nude photos to each other.

The students involved are both boys and girls, ranging in age from 12- to 14-years-old, who attend school in Cedar Springs, about 20 miles northeast of Grand Rapids.

Police confiscated four cellphones earlier this week after a school security officer heard about the "sexting," Mlive.com reported.

Police Chief Roger Parent said they found three images that included some frontal nudity and topless photos. According to police, each photo was taken by the student who appeared in the image, more commonly known in social media as a "selfie."

Investigators say the images weren't distributed and circulated only among the four students who were suspended. No criminal charges are expected.

"You don't have a traumatized victim in this case. But the problem is that young students this age can spread it and share it," Parent said. "It's the young people of this age that don't think of the consequences."

Parent said it's up to the parents to prevent incidents like this from happening by talking to their children about their phone and computer activity. He said every family should discuss an "open policy and a policy about accepted use" of smart phones and the internet.

TM and © Copyright 2013 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2013 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.