A 17-year-old boy is facing child porn charges in connection with an investigation at a school in Cole Harbour, N.S.
RCMP responded to Auburn Drive High School on Jan. 9, after a student allegedly distributed images of another student without her permission at school.
Officers seized several cellphones and the matter was turned over to the internet child exploitation unit.
“We determined that the images that were being distributed met the test or the standard of child pornography,” says Halifax District RCMP Cpl. Scott MacRae.
Police say the teen was arrested last Friday and released. He is facing charges of possessing child pornography and distributing child pornography.
Students at the school say they aren’t surprised by the charges, considering today’s technology.
“People all the time think that it’s OK to send things over the Internet and they really don’t think about the consequences later on in life,” says Grade 11 student Matt Curry.
The Halifax Regional School Board says the case is an example of the process working the way it should.
“A student found out that an image of her was being shared without her permission. She brought it to the school’s attention. The school conducted their own investigation and contacted the police,” says school board spokesperson Doug Hadley.
“The board itself is now in the process of developing a region-wide digital citizenship policy. The province is looking at a new policy around the acceptable use of technology.”
The provincial justice minister also responded to the charges, saying progress is being made when it comes to the distribution of intimate photos without consent.
“Youth need to understand that distributing these types of images is harmful and unacceptable,” says Lena Diab. “I think we need to do more to educate our youth.”
Police say the two students involved in the alleged incident were 16 at the time and both attended Auburn Drive High School.
Hadley says the student charged in the case was disciplined following the school’s investigation, although he wouldn’t offer specifics.
The teen is due in Halifax provincial youth court on May 8.
With files from CTV Atlantic's Jacqueline Foster
