By Jon Johnson
SAFFORD – A 14-year-old male informed officers that a person who he believed was an adult female was blackmailing him over nude pictures he had sent her via the social media platform Instagram.
The officer responded to the juvenile’s residence at about 3 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 2, regarding the threat and initially spoke with the victim’s mother. The mother said the female suspect, who she did not know, had threatened to share the nude pictures with all of her son’s friends on social media if they did not meet the suspect’s payment demands.
The officer advised the victim and his mother that he should delete his Instagram account and inform them if the pictures appear anywhere.
Because they are nude pictures of a 14-year-old boy, the photos are considered child pornography and anyone possessing them could be charged with as such. Additionally, the officer informed the victim that he too could be charged for sending the pictures.
According to the law, juveniles who take pictures of themselves in states of undress and share them with others may also be charged with dissemination of child pornography even though they are children themselves.
