Girl, 16, to be charged in ‘sexting’ case involving Vandalia Butler students

UPDATE @ 5:55 p.m. (Jan. 29): Union police investigating "sexting" involving students who attend Vandalia Butler schools are pursuing a criminal charge against a 16-year-old female Vandalia Butler High School student.

The girl -- whose name we are not reporting because of her age -- is being charged with delinquency by reason of disseminating matter harmful to juveniles, according to an incident report filed by Union police.

That charge is or has been forwarded to Montgomery County Juvenile Court.

The girl's mother told News Center 7's James Buechele that her daughter is slowed developmentally, has a low IQ, and should not be accused of a crime.

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According to a supplemental report dated Jan. 29, the girl's father advised police that his daughter “on her own free will” did send photographs and a video of herself engaging in sexual acts, but that a boy at the high school threatened her into sending him more photos.

The girl, her father said in the report, did comply and sent more nude photos.

The father and mother said they want police to investigate the boys who distributed the photos and video among themselves, as well as the boy the father said threatened their daughter.

Union police told the father that Vandalia police or the Vandalia-Butler School District would have to investigate the accusation involving the threat because Union has no jurisdiction.

The father, in the report, said he would be contacting Vandalia police.

Officials with the school district said that because the incidents did not occur on school property, the district would not be investigating the incidents.

INITIAL REPORT (Jan. 26)

Police began an investigation into a “sexting” case involving students who attend Vandalia Butler Schools.

A father reported to police that his daughter took a nude video and nude photos of herself on her cellphone, and then sent them to five boys who attend Vandalia Butler Schools, according to a Vandalia police report.

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Vandalia police Lt. Kurt Althouse said the incident happened in Union, and that Union police took an offense report.

We reached out to Union police and are awaiting more information on their investigation.

Anaka Johnson, communications and public relations coordinator for Vandalia Butler Schools, said the incidents did not happen at school or involve the district, so there is no school investigation.

The incident was reported to have happened between Dec. 22, 2017, and Jan. 17.

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It remains under investigation, Althouse said.

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