Lawmakers, district attorneys back plan to create 'sexting' offense
Lawmakers and several midstate district attorneys gathered Monday to push a proposal that would carve out new punishments for teens who “sext,” or send nude or inappropriate photos via cell phone text message or e-mail.
The bill by Rep. Seth Grove, R-York County, would make sexting a second-degree misdemeanor for anyone age 13 to 17 years. Currently, teens caught sexting could be charged with disseminating child pornography, a felony, and face stiff penalties like jail time and registering as a sex offender on the Megan’s Law Web site.
“Sexting is no joke. Kids are doing it and the consequences are far too great to ignore,” said Dauphin County District Attorney Edward Marsico. “This (bill) gives us the tools to separate out this crime from the true child pornographers.”