Warning sent to cyberbullies, sexting students

Cyberbullies and those who engage in sexting were put on notice Thursday when the Nevada Supreme Court launched this year's Law Day: We will find you if you walk on the dark side of technology.

While students disagreed how pervasive the problem is, it is clear judges, prosecutors and teachers are concerned, and the evidence backs them up as the number of cases across the country swells.

An impressive arsenal of modern technology was on display at the live Web event, which featured Twitter and Facebook feeds and was videoconferenced from Supreme Court offices in Las Vegas, Carson City, Reno and Elko.

The theme focused on the role technology plays in modern court systems, but the discussion hosted by Justice Nancy Saitta looked almost exclusively at cyberbullying and sexting.

"You are not anonymous," warned Mary Brown, Clark County's chief deputy district attorney for the juvenile division, speaking to high school students from across the state . "You think using screen names gives you anonymity, but we can find you these days."

Chief Justice Ron Parraguirre mentioned the recent suicide of Phoebe Prince, a Boston teenager who hanged herself after she was repeatedly targeted online. Nine of her high school classmates were arrested in March.

"Some of them are likely to go to prison," said Parraguirre, who wanted to know how widespread cyberbullying is in Nevada.

The answer depends. In Clark County, teenagers have been charged and a push is under way to certify some as adults for particularly grievous offenses.

Elko County has had problems, as well. But officials in Reno's Washoe County say the problem isn't significant. If so, the northwest Nevada county has dodged a bullet.

Brown said bullying behavior on the Internet is a national problem.

A new state law addressing cyberbullying goes in effect July 1, but Clark County Public Defender Phil Kohn doesn't know if it will deter people.

"Our laws just don't go far enough," he said. "Congress hasn't taken up the issue. You can say anything on a blog. There's no liability, no responsibility."

An equally disturbing trend is so-called sexting, which involves taking and e-mailing explicit photos.

The consequences of sending a sexual image of a minor over the Internet are severe, said Elko County District Judge Andrew Puccinelli. "It can be a life sentence. You get certified up, adjudicated a sex offender and you're subject to lifetime supervision."

Panelists said many students don't see the harm in taking and sending such photos, and urged parents to educate their children.

"They perceive it as innocent, but when that first love goes south, bad things can happen," said Clark County District Court Judge William Voy.

If the subject of such a photo is a minor, even if they took it themselves, the crime of child pornography has been committed.

Panel member Roger West, dean of students at Green Valley High School in Henderson, invited a buzz of questions from students participating via Twitter when he said the school has the right to search the contents of a cell phone without probable cause.

West created further teen angst when he said teachers and administrators are legally required to notify parents if images are on the phone.

"We'll all be looking at the picture," he said.

Students learned minors don't enjoy the full array of rights granted to adults.

They also learned that once an image is e-mailed, it is out there forever.

Oftentimes, said Sparks Justice of the Peace Kevin Higgins, photos of teens wind up on porn Web sites. "You create a market for (child pornography) when you do this. Those images get abrogated."

Parraguirre put it more succinctly. "Like a diamond, sexting is forever."

Contact Doug McMurdo at dmcmurdo@reviewjournal.com or 702-380-8135.