FREEPORT, Texas—Parents in Freeport are looking for answers after an investigation into a possible sexual assault at a school uncovered a widespread "sexting" problem.
Freeport Intermediate School opened its doors on Friday amid clouds of controversy.
"I’m pretty concerned," said Gina Garcia, a parent. "I have a daughter in the seventh grade here and I’d like to know what’s going on."
What has so many parents concerned are lewd images found on cell phones—pictures of young girls that may have been forwarded to several students.
"If they got it, looked at it, kept it on their phone, then they’re in possession of pornography, particularly child pornography if they’re under 18 years of age," said Freeport Police Chief Tyron Morrow.
The sexting allegations sprang from a sexual misconduct investigation involving a female student and two 14-year-old boys. The boys told 11 News the girl and one of her friends had sent them nude photographs, and that dozens of other girls had shared similar pictures with other students.
"We’ll follow our student code of conduct, and it could be anywhere from suspension to placement in our discipline alternative education center," said Deputy Superintendent Dr. Dennis McNaughten.
Some students at the seemed unimpressed by their classmates’ alleged behavior.
"I think they’re just doing it to get attention," said student Lindie Johnson. "I think it’s really dumb."
District officials said they just want to halt "sexting" from spreading beyond one school, and are in the process of distributing education videos to classrooms throughout the district. The videos, they said, instruct children of the consequences of the inappropriate usage of cell phones
Meanwhile, the city manager of Freeport said his office will be watching closely to observe how the school district and police department handle the matter.
