Florida Criminal Attorney Blog
A high school student who is accused of going through his teacher’s cell phone, finding a nude picture of her and posting it online has been charged with a computer crime and voyeurism.
According to authorities, the student, who is being charged as a juvenile, was taken into custody at Union High School in South Carolina without incident.
The 16-year-old is charged with a count of violating the state’s computer crime act in the second degree and a count of aggravated voyeurism.
He is being held in juvenile detention for a hearing in family court.
Officials said it is not clear how many people may have seen the social media postings of the photo.
The teacher, 33, has quit her job teaching mechanical and electrical engineering and computer programming at the school’s vocational center.
She told police that on Feb. 18 she stepped out of her classroom, which is when a boy took her unlocked smartphone from her desk, opened the photos application and found a nude selfie she had taken for her husband as a Valentine’s Day present.
According to reports, the superintendent said it was the teacher’s fault for leaving students unattended during a four-minute break between classes.
The voyeurism charge makes it illegal, for the purpose of sexual gratification, to record or make a digital file of another person without his or her consent. The computer crimes charge makes it illegal to take possession or deprive the owner of a computer of computer data.
Both charges are misdemeanors for a first offense.
Your child may face various negative consequence if they are arrested or charged with a juvenile offense. Being detained in a juvenile detention center or in jail is a very real possibility if convicted. In certain scenarios, your child may be removed from the home, either temporarily or permanently. With the help of our Florida Juvenile Crime Defense Lawyers at Whittel & Melton, we might be able to encourage the judge to allow for leniency, including probation or possibly just a warning rather than subjecting a minor to a criminal record.
Achieving the best possible outcome for your son or daughter’s juvenile crime is our number one goal. As trial lawyers, we are adept at negotiations with prosecutors and will work aggressively to achieve a reduction of charges or a dismissal of all charges, if possible. Contact us online or call us today at 866-608-5529 to find out how we might be able to help you and your child get a second chance and avoid the severe consequences of a criminal record.