The mother of the 17-year-old victim reported the crime to deputies in March after one of her daughter’s friends told her about the photos. Both parties shared nude photos with one another, also known as “sexting,” according to a police report.
“I didn’t know what to do,” said the mother, who is not being identified to protect the identity of the victim. “I never thought one of my kids would be in a position like that, especially with a 40-some-year-old man.”
Clark County Juvenile Court Magistrate Brandin Marlow said theses cases are more common and now a group of concerned parties is trying to address the issue.
“I think the numbers seen in court are just a mere fraction of what are actually out there,” she said.
The group has only had one meeting and is still in the brainstorming phase, Marlow said. But it is discussing adding education in the schools about the dangers of “sexting” and posting pictures online, she added.
The Clark County Juvenile Court could also add a new diversion program for youths who get caught posting inappropriate pictures of other youths online.
The group is currently doing research about what other counties, including Montgomery County, are doing to combat the problem of youths sharing nude photos.
Marlow said the law does not differentiate between a 50-year-old man or a 16-year-old boyfriend posting a picture of an underage girl.
Miller will be back in court in early June for a preliminary hearing.
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