Storm Lake, Iowa — A Sheldon teen is one of several from around northwest Iowa facing charges for allegedly texting obscene photos to other teenagers.
According to authorities, Storm Lake Police last week took a report at the Storm Lake High School about an allegation that multiple students had been sending nude photographs via text messages to other students. The allegations included students from Storm Lake High School, Storm Lake Middle School and a juvenile from Sheldon.
Police conducted an investigation and interviewed a large number of students which led authorities to discover that what was at first an isolated allegation expanded into several students allegedly involved in the dissemination of obscene photos (also known as sexting).
During the investigation police say they seized multiple cell phones and executed search warrants for each phone. The investigation alleges that nine minors were involved in fifteen incidents where photos were allegedly shared or sent to juveniles in Storm Lake, Schaller, Lakeside, and Sheldon, and as far as Graham, Washington.
Police say the investigation led to multiple juveniles being charged, including:
15 year old male of Sheldon, IA was charged with 2 counts of Exploitation of a Minor (class C felony)
15 year old male of Storm Lake was charged with 3 counts of Exploitation of a Minor (class C felony)
17 year old male of Storm Lake was charged with 2 counts of Exploitation of a Minor (class C felony) and 1 count of Dissemination of Obscene Material to a Minor (serious misdemeanor)
13 year old female of Storm Lake was charged with 1 count of Dissemination of Obscene Material to a Minor (serious misdemeanor)
15 year old female of Lakeside, IA charged with 4 counts of Dissemination of Obscene Material to a Minor (serious misdemeanor)
16 year old female of Schaller, IA charged with 1 count of Dissemination of Obscene Material to a Minor (serious misdemeanor)
17 year old female of Lakeside, IA charged with 1 count of Dissemination of Obscene Material to a Minor (serious misdemeanor)
All of the juveniles were processed and released to an adult pending a court date, according to police.
The Storm Lake Police Department was assisted by the Sheldon Police Department.
The case has been forwarded to the Juvenile Court Authority.
