Article posted by Kokomo Tribune (9/20/06)
Cell phone captures sex acts with child
Child exploitation charges filed after case manager finds images
By KEN de la BASTIDE
Tribune enterprise editor
A Kokomo High School student was arrested Thursday at the Kinsey Youth Center on 10 counts of child exploitation for reportedly taking sexually explicit photographs on a cell phone.
According to Major Steve Rogers with the Howard County Sheriff’s Department, the 17-year-old was attending a therapy session with Latisha Rumsey, a case manager, and a random cell phone search was conducted.
During the routine search, Rumsey discovered several explicit pictures on the cell phone, Rogers said. When asked who was in the pictures the 17-year-old said they were of himself and a 16-year-old girl.
Deputy Larry Sparks looked at the cell phone and found 10 pictures of various sex acts and poses, according to a police report. The juvenile was informed that he was being charged with 10 counts of child exploitation, a class C felony.
While at the Kinsey Youth Center, the cell phone rang and was answered by a deputy with the sheriff’s department. The caller was the alleged victim.
The police report states the officer then met with the alleged victim and her father and they were told the 17-year-old was being charged. The deputy told the girl that several pictures were found on the cell phone. The father told police that he was aware sexual activity was taking place between the two teenagers.
The girl told police she knew about the pictures and had forgiven him.
The Prosecutor’s Office will determine if the youth will be charged as an adult.
If convicted on the class C felony charges, the teenager could face a maximum eight-year prison sentence on each count
SOURCE: Kokomo Tribune