Several students at a Long Island high school have been suspended while others have been arrested after a student allegedly received some kind of pornographic video last week, school officials and parents say.
Suffolk County police say an encounter that occurred off school grounds between a male and female who knew each other was recorded on a cellphone by a male acquaintance in late October.
Police say the recording was distributed electronically. They say two 14-year-old male Smithtown School District students involved in the incident were arrested on various charges, including disseminating indecent material to minors and promoting sexual performance by a child.
Officials at Kings Park High School say they became aware of the recording, which was made off campus, on Thursday, according to superintendent Timothy Eagen.
“This is an open and active police investigation and we have been informed that arrests have been made in conjunction with this incident,” Eagan said. “The district has also suspended students whom had involvement in any way with this matter.”
It’s also unknown how many students were involved and how many were suspended.
Several parents have said they’re planning to appeal the suspensions. Parents said administrators told them they suspended anyone who received or forwarded the video.
Local
"This is a tragedy that this girl's picture of whatever she was doing got sent around the school," said father Andrew Fenton. "It's a modern-day social media tragedy."
But Fenton, whose 15-year-old son was suspended, said the school went too far in suspending the students. He said his son received the video, but shut his phone off immediately.
Thomas Phelan's son, also 15, said he never even saw the video, but was suspended for being on a group chat where the video was sent.
"Most of these kids are unwilling participants," Phelan said. "They received something. They did not give permission or authority to have it sent to them."
Phelan said at least 30 parents went to the principal's office Monday morning to complain.
The school district confirmed the students were suspended, but did not offer further comment.
Attorney Peter Frankel said he believes administrators are standing on shaky legal ground.
"I think the superintendent needs to be very careful in what he does and what action he takes without having the requisite action of proof before he suspends students like he did here," Frankel said.
Although parents were told their children could be arrested for trespassing if they show up at school Tuesday, many say they are planning on sending them to school anyway.
