The mother of the 17-year-old girl convicted last week in a “sexting” case in Victoria Youth Justice Court issued a statement Wednesday saying that her daughter realizes the scope of what she has done as part of a “teenager disaster.”
In a statement issued through defence lawyer Christopher Mackie, the mother said her daughter and the family realize that her behaviour was “unacceptable,” but repeated the contention that she appears to have been singled out for prosecution.
“During court we heard numerous testimonies from other teens involved who also possessed and distributed photos outside of the relationship they were intended for … and yet my child, who is the youngest of them all, was the only teen charged,” she said. “My daughter’s phone was the only phone examined.”
Still, she said, her daughter accepts full responsibility for her role in a situation “that resulted in her being convicted as a child pornographer.”
The case wrapped up last week with the girl being convicted of possessing and distributing child pornography, and uttering threats. She was 16 at the time of the offences, when she texted explicit images of her boyfriend’s ex-girlfriend to the ex-girlfriend and another friend.
She also sent comments that were deemed to constitute threats.
Sentencing is on hold because Mackie is mounting a constitutional challenge of the outcome. It will consider whether child-pornography laws should be applied in a case like this.
Meanwhile, a 16-year-old boy from Kenora, Ont., is facing a charge of distribution of child pornography after explicit photographs of a 17-year-old girl were found on an electronic device. Police allege the boy distributed the photo. He is due in court on Jan. 28.
With a file from The Canadian Press
