Police have a warrant to see a teen boy's erection
A teen boy from Manassas City, Virginia, is facing felony charges in a sexting case, but that's not the worst part. The boy's lawyer told The Washington Post that he may be forced to show his erection to the local police.
The suspect, 17, faces two charges for manufacturing and distributing child pornography after exchanging sexually explicit photos and videos with his then-girlfriend, who was 15 at the time. The girl, whose mother filed the complaint, has not been charged.
After obtaining a search warrant for the teen's iPhone and iPad, police took the suspect to juvenile jail. Jessica Harbeson Foster, the boy's lawyer, told the Post that Assistant Commonwealth Attorney Claiborne Richardson told her that if the client did not plead guilty, police would get another search warrant "for pictures of his erect penis" to compare to the photos on his phone. The Post suggests that prosecutors and police may go as far as to bring him to a hospital for an injection to see his erection.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
"This is a 17-year-old who goes to school every day, plays football, has never been in trouble with the law before," Foster told the Post. "Now he's saddled with two felonies and the implication that he's a sexual predator."
Previously, the suspect's aunt told NBC Washington that police "took him to a room and took pictures of his genitalia." The new warrant would be a step further, with photos of his erection. The suspect's guardian ad litem called the warrant "effectively child abuse."
The suspect was allowed to visit family out of town but is due back in court in August. If convicted, he could be forced to register as a sex offender and be imprisoned again.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Meghan DeMaria is a staff writer at TheWeek.com. She has previously worked for USA Today and Marie Claire.
-
Harriet Tubman made a general 161 years after raid
Speed Read She was the first woman to oversee an American military action during a time of war
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Chappell Roan is a new kind of boundary-setting celebrity
In the Spotlight She's calling out fans and the media for invasive behavior
By Anya Jaremko-Greenwold, The Week US Published
-
Saudi crown prince slams Israeli 'genocide' in Gaza
Speed Read Mohammed bin Salman has condemned Israel’s actions
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Nobody seems surprised Wagner's Prigozhin died under suspicious circumstances
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
Western mountain climbers allegedly left Pakistani porter to die on K2
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
'Circular saw blades' divide controversial Rio Grande buoys installed by Texas governor
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
Los Angeles city workers stage 1-day walkout over labor conditions
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
Mega Millions jackpot climbs to an estimated $1.55 billion
Speed Read
By Catherine Garcia Published
-
Bangladesh dealing with worst dengue fever outbreak on record
Speed Read
By Catherine Garcia Published
-
Glacial outburst flooding in Juneau destroys homes
Speed Read
By Catherine Garcia Published
-
Scotland seeking 'monster hunters' to search for fabled Loch Ness creature
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published