Teen Boy Charged As Adult For Having Naked Pics of a Minor: Himself

[fried eggs]

A North Carolina 17-year-old caught in a sexting scandal faces charges of sexually exploiting a minor that could land him in jail for up to 10 years, since the law considers him an adult. But one of the minors he supposedly exploited is himself­—which raises an obvious question: how can a teen be old enough to face adult felony charges, but not old enough to keep a nude picture of himself on his phone?

Unfortunately, that’s the Kafka-esque nightmare in which Fayetteville-area high schooler Cormega Copening finds himself after exchanging private nude photos with his girlfriend—with whom he is legally allowed to have sex, but not to sext.

I wrote about Copening’s story on Tuesday. Since then, I’ve learned new information that makes the local sheriff’s office’s actions seem even more ludicrous.But first, to recap: Copening and his girlfriend—now identified as Brianna Denson—are like other teenagers in that they have more than a passing interest in sex. Indeed, when they were 16, they exchanged racy sexy photos via text message. Denson sent pictures to Copening, and Copening sent pictures to Denson. It appears that no one else saw the pictures until local authorities searched Copening’s phone and discovered them.

http://reason.com/blog/2015/09/02/teen-boy-will-be-charged-as-adult-for-ha#comment

How disgusting is this? Ruining two kids' lives over this?

[HappyPlace]

1. We have gone too far. nt

[msongs]

2. they can claim protection because of their sincerely held religious beliefs nt

[Geronimoe]

3. Insane world

These kids a pretty sad. Perhaps this is what people do? I don't know. I see people spending much of his/her time not relating to anyone but mesmerized by smartphone. Perhaps much of it is sexting. Something seems incredibly wrong with all of this. It is like the twilight zone. Two people sitting together probably can't even talk to each other, they might even sit there using the smartphone to communicate to each other. However this is what corporate America sells consumers and Americans may be less intelligent than monkeys, given their corporate and government controled education.

Regardless, it seems now we all need to delete our baby pictures. You know the ones taken by our parents of us as babies, naked taking a bath.

Here is a perfect example of the ramification of a surveillance State. Kids just being kids (weird as they are, yet innocent) getting indicted for crimes.

[MattSh]

4. Every time I think the race to the bottom of the stupidity barrel...

has almost run it's course, new candidates appear and proves the stupidity race is ongoing.

Sorry dudes, there's no prize at the bottom of the barrel. Stop digging...

[LuvNewcastle]

5. Someone here is trying to make a point

with this case, I believe. Why else would 17 year-olds be bothered about who they text? It might be technically against the law for 17 year-olds to text some of these things to each other, but most people understand that the law is often vague, and when you take the law to extremes, you're likely making a mistake. Someone wants this issue settled by getting the law overturned.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

6. Are they afraid he'll grow up to be another Trump?

[AgingAmerican]

7. Phony puritanical American Nonsense

nt

[yuiyoshida]

8. I guess we have to destroy our child hood photos

Babys in the bath tub, cause its now considered Kiddie Porn. Welcome to the New American standard.

[awoke_in_2003]

19. Anne Geddes will go out of business.

[JI7]

9. "But one of the minors he supposedly exploited is himself"

Dots that mean there were othErs ?

[EL34x4]

13. Probably his girlfriend (nt)

[LisaL]

14. He and his girlfriend send photos to each other.

[Chathamization]

10. A year ago there was a case like this where the police were threatening to sexually assault the kid

if they didn't plead guilty. 16 year old took picture of his erect penis, sent it to his 15 year old girlfriend. Police charged him with manufacturing and distributing child pornography...of himself. Then they told him if he didn't plead guilty they would take him to the hospital, inject him with something that would force an erection, and take picture of his erect penis themselves (supposedly for evidence that the picture he sent was his own). More information here.

A lot of police departments are simply out of control.

[ryan_cats]

11. Whoever thought taking pictures of your genitals would go wrong?

Whoever thought taking pictures of your genitals would go wrong? What's the worse that could happen?

The coarsening of society moving along nicely.

[LisaL]

15. But those laws are crazy.

A minor can be charged as an adult for exploiting a minor (and this minor is himself).

[ryan_cats]

16. Yes the law is crazy

Yes the law is crazy. If you injure yourself in a DUI it is a felony for causing injury, to yourself.

[LisaL]

17. It's even worse if you kill yourself in a DUI.

[ryan_cats]

18. You could do serious time, then they send you to Detroit. n/t

[Captain Stern]

12. This is in my neck of the woods.

The charges are bullshit.

Copening is the starting QB for one of the county's better football teams. As long as the charges are pending, he can't play. That's why this is being pursued.