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Ethanol-fueled [soylentnews.org] writes:

[ Submitter's note: It gets worse. Both the summary and/or article contain a NSFW (but legal) picture and potentially shocking descriptions not meant to be lurid, but to inform the reader of the current state of a society's handling of a technological aspect of life. ]

Hot on the heels of this [soylentnews.org] related article, The Atlantic one-ups the previous article in bringing to light the increasing hysteria [theatlantic.com] revolving the sexting of minors, truly a new low for American absurdity (paraphrased):

" A male minor is forced by adults to submit to an injection that makes his penis erect. The adults command him to strip and photograph his genitals against his will. I am not describing the twisted crime of a registered sex offender. Incredibly, that was the scenario that prosecutors in Prince William County hoped to arrange, according to reports in the Washington Post [washingtonpost.com] and at an NBC News [washingtonpost.com] affiliate. The boy was already forced to let law enforcement photograph his flaccid penis, the articles add.

The alleged crimes which ostensibly justify this most intrusive and traumatizing investigation? The teen's lawyer, Jessica Harbeson Foster, spoke to the newspaper: 'Foster said the case began when the teen's 15-year-old girlfriend sent photos of herself to the 17-year-old, who in turn sent her the video in question. The girl has not been charged, and her mother filed a complaint about the boy's video.' "

For committing those heinous crimes, two felony charges were brought — possession of child pornography and manufacturing child pornography. Potential penalties, should the minor be found guilty, are incarceration until age 21 and registering (possibly for life) as a sex-offender.

Fortunately, the case got enough attention in the media, and Manassas Police Lt. Brian Larkin said the Police Department will not proceed with the plan to take the pictures and will let a search warrant authorizing the photos to expire. However, according to the police' official statement [washingtonpost.com] released yesterday evening has confirmed that the police department will continue charging the defendant with manufacturing and distribution of child pornography.

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Original Submission