COLUMBUS, Ohio -- A new bill introduced Wednesday would give prosecutors another option in dealing with minors who pass along naked pictures on their cell phones.
Senate Bill 103 would make it a misdemeanor for a minor to use a telecommunications device to create, send, receive, exchange or possess a photo or other material showing a nude minor.
It may seem like harmless fun to a teenager with a cell phone, but sexting can have grave consequences.
Last year, Cincinnati-area high school student Jessie Logan sent a nude photo of herself to her then-boyfriend. But when they broke up, the photo was later circulated around her school and ultimately, the humiliation from classmates led her to commit suicide.
Currently, prosecutors must either charge a minor as an adult for possessing or distributing child pornography or drop the case altogether.
"The choice now is they can just let it go and do nothing or they can charge the teenager with felony and potential jail time and registering as a sex offender. That's just not enough of a choice there for them to have," said State Sen. Robert Schuler.
Schuler introduced the bill after two cases in his district, saying that while the offense is serious, children should not be labeled as sex offenders as a result.
Local parents who spoke with NBC 4 on Wednesday said they support the legal change.
"I sure wouldn't want my daughters receiving that from somebody else, but at that age, should they really be held as felons? I don't really think so," said Michelle Flaherty, of Lewis Center.
"At that age, a lot of times, it's a teenage thing where they're just not totally thinking," said Dawn Ferguson, of Columbus.
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