Prosecutors decline to file charges against Saline Middle School students in 'sexting' case

Saline police were called to the school on May 26 after a girl told school officials she sent a boy a nude picture of herself from her cell phone. She told authorities she and the boy texted frequently, and he asked her whether she ever sent nude photos of herself to others before.

She said she felt pressured to send him a photo and later did so, reports said. He asked for another photo, but she refused.

The girl said she came forward at the urging of friends who said they heard about the photo from other students, according to reports.

School officials questioned the boy and determined he showed the photo on his cell phone to two other boys. He said he deleted the image and gave school officials his phone to prove it. Police turned him over to his father, who indicated he wanted to speak with an attorney before further interviews, reports said.

Saline police did not request charges, but said they were obligated to forward the report to prosecutors for review for possible charges of computer sex crimes.

Ray would not answer questions about specifics of the case and said charges could be denied for a number of reasons, depending on what evidence officers obtained. Police reports confirmed the images were deleted from the boy’s phone before many others saw them, and the photos weren't distributed to other phones or computers.

Police were called back to the school on June 7 when a 14-year-old girl told school officials a friend sent a boy a topless photo of herself by cell phone. At least four students saw the photo on the 14-year-old boy’s cell phone.

Saline Detective Don Lupi said the phones were confiscated, and the investigation is ongoing. He said the incidents are not related.