On March 10, 2014 at approximately 9:49 am, Brentwood Police Officers were dispatched to Adams Middle School (401 American Avenue) regarding students exchanging inappropriate images using electronic devices.
Preliminary investigation revealed several students (ranging in age from 12-14) from Adams Middle School, Bristow Middle School, Edna Hill Middle School (all in Brentwood) and Excelsior Middle School (in Byron) used their cell phones or other electronic devices to exchange inappropriate images of themselves in various stages of undress. Students found to be in possession of inappropriate images were disciplined by school administration.
Additional information revealed inappropriate images of one female student were used by a male student to force the female to engage in sexual acts while on campus. The suspect in this incident is also being disciplined by school administration.
The Police Department is working with the District Attorney’s Office to submit the cases for review and filing of appropriate criminal charges.
The Brentwood Police Department is working closely with school staff and parents to gather information and evidence associated with these incidents.
During this past year, Brentwood Detective Thompson and Officer McNerthney have been working closely with school administration in the Liberty Union High School District to educate parents and members of the community on cyber bullying, internet safety, cell phone use and the dangers of sexting.
Additional information on cell phone and internet safety can be found at netsmartz.org
The investigation is ongoing and anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to call Detective Thompson at the Brentwood Police Department at (925)778-2441 or (925)634-6911.
Information provided by the Brentwood Police Department
33 comments
Where in the world are the parents? No kid should hvae a cell phone while in middle school. This is so sad. The parents should also be charged.
Well I think kids are safer with the phone at school than no phone at all. If there’s an emergency my daughter can reach me. Kids haven’t changed, just the technology has.
Good parents can turn out bad kids. And visa versa.
Karen… you don’t rate imbecile status… your are far too stupid for that status.
The problem, is in fact parents and family. Kids should be taught a values system, which would in turn prevent issues like this from coming up. Why on earth are kids using cell phones on campus? I can see casual use of a cell phone as a “shared” device (contact with home), and have the images, text messages, and phone calls backed directly up to the cloud for supervision and going back with the child for review. I quite frankly want my kids to understand what is appropriate and what is wrong, but I think most kids know what they should and should not do, they just don’t understand the consequences. When the police get involved the families lives are usually ruined and scared forever. In this case a girl will have issues to deal with as well, whether a willing participant or not. These kids need to understand that consequences in life can be severe BEFORE they happen, and know how to handle themselves.
Ummm, where are the parents? Just sad. Another black eye for the BUSD. I cannot believe these kids today. This is middle school. End of the innocence.
Frank… you married to Michelle? You are an imbecile too.
Thank you ECT for real reporting. That other town paper said it was only occurring at Adams Middle School. You say it’s happening at four schools. I think all people need to speak with their kids no matter what age they are at. This is pretty disgusting and I hope the parents involved should be ashamed. Seems like the sex stuff keeps getting younger and younger as the years ago by. As a parent, I am just that first, I am a friend second.
Michelle B,
I sincerely hope you are ashamed for every sin and mistake your child/children make, whether it be a bad test grade, spilled milk, or an accidental pregnancy like yourself. I ironically hope your parents are ashamed of your recent post. I hope your kids are less ignorant than you and can one day be educated enough to recognize the humiliation you’ve brought upon yourself. Sorry I don’t have more time to explain, but I have to get back to homework. My parents raised me to be polite to strangers, but hell if they should be ashamed that I can’t resist to call you out for your mentally deficient comment.
Best of wishes,
A Previous Middle Schooler
Michelle… You are an imbecile.
To think this happened at four schools is pretty disgusting. With cell phones and the internet, garbage like this travels fast. Kids need to be reminded of the dangers of sexting and photos.
Don’t be so quick to judge parents. Granted I check my 14 yo sons pictures, texts, and other media, but having a phone in 8th grade is not odd or wrong. Leaving them to make bad decisions is. Education is key here. I talk with my kids ALL THE TIME about this kind of stuff. Doesn’t mean they absolutely won’t do it.
Very well said!!
To ask ” where are the parents?!?” Is pretty ridiculous. The year is 2014 people. This is the way of the new generation. I have shown my 14 year old this post. And had a long talk with him about rape and suck things. What were you doing at 14? All we can do is educate. And let them lead their own life. Plus if my son didn’t have a phone. It would make my life a lot harder with my 50% custody. I don’t know about you. But I love talking to my kid on my off weeks. Besides HE WORKED ALL SUMMER FOR HIS PHONE AND PAID 6 MONTHS OF SERVICE AT ONCE! The point is. Don’t judge.
Really!!! To say “no kid in middle school should have a cell phone” is idiotic! If some emergency happens u can bet im calling my kids phone to check or expecting a call from them and Not waiting around for some automative call. Educating and daily talks as well as showing them articles like this one to see what the consenquences would be.
This is why kids should have just that! a phone, only able to make and receive phone calls, no other bullshit extras that can come with it.
This. ^^ Instead, MS kids are given (not earned) the sort of phones from their guardians that do everything under the sun. The excuse from the guardian is that they feel safer being able to connect with their kid in an emergency. Yet, kids get phones that have the type of free rein access that adults have so why should the expectation then be that kids will not do everything they want to/can do amongst themselves given that it’s really easy to do so on their device? Their are no boundaries anymore. Kids get that, they really do.
In my day, we didn’t have no cellular pbones to sext with…. We played doctor… And we liked it! We walked to school barefoot in the snow and ate the peanuts from our …. And we liked it.
I now have it pegged… The majority of posters here live in Summerset.
From them we have big tobacco, excessive energy use, and rampant entitlements. Nice legacy boneheads.
In Antioch that’s a slow Tuesday
Hilarious, Bill, and so true!
Why the f— are all of you talking about cell phones, when this young girl was forced into sexual activities likely so this douche bag kid wouldn’t show the entire school her pictures.. Its sickening, and you people sicken me with your priorities.
You think kids are safer at school with a phone then without it? I think this article just disproved that statement. I think cell phones cause more trouble than we think and should be given to people who are not to immature. I understand that a phone gives a parent a sense of security and protection for their kid and that is a main reason why they give their kid a cell phone. However, I never had a cell phone in middle school and no one else in my family did either. The reason being is that I could always use the office phone or the coach’s phone if I needed to reach my parents. Therefore, this whole emergency thing doesn’t make sense because when there was an emergency for me the principal called my mom and I was able to go home. I believe the majority of kids in middle school should not have cell phones yet. It opens the door to a whole list of people that they can now talk to that they normally would not have the opportunity to talk to unless they were at school. I know one of the main reasons why my little brother does not have a girl friend right now is because they ask him for his number and he has to give them the house phone number. I believe there is more control and your child is more safe without a cell phone than with a cell phone.
Why these personal attacks on posters? Why this name calling? You are wasting your time on this when this serious information needs our attention. Some of you are real bullies.
You may have forgotten we now live in a world with school shootings. How many kids can use an office phone then. How about GPS on the phone, so god forbid a child is kidnapped they can be located because of their phone.
I don’t think stupid people should drive. So what. You want to make choices for people, move to communist China or North Korea. Otherwise, who cares if you think kids should or should not have cell phones you totalitarian facsist republican.
The article and news says Boys were blackmailing for sex favors, in ko way shape or form is that excusable! But have to say I hope the girls that sent the pictures to these boys get in trouble also! If there were no pictures sent this would not be happening!
This is a very sad situation. Worse is that it is not at all unique. The community should be able to discuss this without all the name calling and blame. I attended the Brentwood PD presentation mentioned and was stunned by the low attendance. There were several middle school parents that asked about a presentation at their school. I wasn’t expecting to learn as much as I did. For instance, you can post a picture
without stating your location. Someone can then use software to find your exact coordinates. How powerful is that? My daughter had no idea. I think this would be an excellent presentation even for elementary school parents. We really all need to be informed, this technology isn’t going anywhere.
For the people
That keep saying where the parents if you have kids that are older bet they have been doing the same thing just haven been caught yet so don’t say anything
I, as a graduate of Excelsior Middle School and as a member of this community, am appalled at what everyone is saying to eachother. This is an article that is not pointing fingers at parents. This is meant to inform of what is happening inside the schools. I would imagine that there are some parents out there who regret the decisions that their children made and feel responsible for their actions but I do not believe that it is out job to point fingers in this situation. As a community we should be looking help each other understand the decisions that led this misinformed children to make poor decisions. I wad in many activities in school and because of this my parents gave me a cell phone to keep in touch with them, but at the same time I used it to talk to my friends. I believe that every situation is different and without knowing details we should not jump to conclusions.
The schools in Brentwood are HORRIBLE. THey have the worst bully problems, no discipline and they administration is crap as well, and they are not very big on cultural diversity! they need programs like challenge day to come in and help these kids. Too many spoiled brats! Teach your kids to respect one another when they are not home! IT ALL STARTS AT HOME!
I am shocked at all the bullying and name calling going on here. Everyone is clearly upset by this and expressing it in different ways. What example are we setting for our kids by the comments being exchanged here? It’s a sad situation for all…the kids and the parents. Instead of bullying one another why not reach out and show support. Nobody is perfect and yes kids think they are invincible…they same way we thought we were at that age…thankfully there weren’t cell phones or technology to prove us wrong. If we all learn something from this its what to keep teaching and talking to our own kids about so it doesn’t keep happening.
I think most of you are missing the point. It’s not about should a kid have a cell phone or not, it’s about raising awareness to the dangers of sexting and the serious potential risks associated with such.
It is clearly an issue we face in today’s world and we need to stop finger pointing and take the initiative to educate ourselves and our children (which I think has begun). Knowledge is power and i think that’s a priority. Secondly, i believe discussions and conversations need to be had in regards to this topic amongst not just parents and kids but with peers, role models and kids in a setting where a child is comfortable to actively participate in the conversation.
My heart goes out to not only the kids involved in this incident but also the children.
Liz and Concerned Parent. I can see why there are so many problems just by the nasty name calling and bullies found in this short column. Focus in the right place folks for the sake of the children……all of them.
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