Gallatin Co. Sheriff Urging Parents to Speak with Children About Explicit Photo Exploitation

The Sheriff's Office has been hit with a rash of cases involving juveniles.

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(Gallatin County, Ky.) - The Gallatin County Sheriff's Office says they have been hit with a "rash" of sextortion cases involving juveniles. 

At the beginning of the school year, the Sheriff's Office had a talk with students about the dangers of the internet, nudity, and their cell phones. 

"We went over a few laws that regulated these offenses and some of their punishments. Our conversation has obviously fallen on deaf ears," reads a news release from the Gallatin County Sheriff's Office. 

If someone obtains a sexually explicit photo and threatens to release it unless the victim meets certain demands, it is typically a Class A Misdemeanor, but there are situations which enhance the penalty to a Class D Felony. 

"If someone should harm themselves or commit suicide as a result of this picture extortion, the offender can be charged with assault or even homicide. We are pleading with parents to have this discussion with their children. It can ruin their lives and follow them for years to come." 

The Sheriff's Office says the most common question they get when they take a phone for evidence is, "when can I get it back?" The answer is there is no specific time, but it can take months and sometimes years for a case to get adjudicated. 

"If a juvenile is caught in the middle of one of these investigations, it is best to prepare to buy a new phone if you believe it is 100 percent necessary that they have one. Please have the conversation and monitor their activity. This is the last thing we want to spend time working"