State v. Mr. F (DMC No. 17981) – Juvenile Felony Unlawful Use of an Electronic Communication by a Minor, Juvenile Felony Distribution of Child Pornography, and (3 Counts) Juvenile Felony Sexual Exploitation of a Minor – Not Charged (Due to “Insufficient Evidence”) – Surprise Police Department Investigated (DR No. 20XX-XXXXXXX7)

Mr. F was a 13-year-old minor who befriended another 13-year-old from grade school. At some point, they made an agreement to swap each others Snapchat accounts after they each had 10 minutes to delete any private photos. They then deleted each other’s account numbers. 

When Mr. F was viewing the girl’s Snapchat pictures, he came across 2 photos and 1 video of her naked. He was accused of later sending those images to a friend of his. That friend the contacted the girl to notify her that 2 photos and a video were now on the internet. At that point the girl informed her father, and the Surprise Police Department became involved. They contacted Mr. F’s father, and then he secured the services of DM Cantor. 

We immediately invoked Mr. F’s Right to Remain Silent. In addition, we reviewed the Search Warrant and items taken by the Police. Although they find the two videos and one photograph, they could not affirmatively confirm that Mr. F was the one who distributed these images. There’s a possibility that the other friend could have done it. We made that argument to the Detectives, and they agreed to “Turn Down” prosecution based on “Insufficient Evidence”. Had Mr. F been Charged and Convicted of these crimes, it was actually possible that he could have been held in Juvenile Detention until his 19th birthday. Instead, he has No Criminal History, and he was Never Charged with any crimes.