PLAINFIELD TOWNSHIP, Mich. — A boy from Plainfield Township is accused of using social media to extort inappropriate photos from more than a dozen of his peers.
The Kent County Sheriff's Office said deputies arrested a 14-year-old in connection to the sextortion case on Monday.
Detectives believe the West Michigan teenager targeted as many as 17 other teenagers on social media, pressing them to send illicit photos to him.
He now faces three counts of child sexually abusive activity, two counts of using a computer to commit a crime, and one count of possessing child sexually abusive material.
The boy is in custody at the Kent County Juvenile Detention Facility.
Authorities are urging parents to talk with their kids about the dangers of online bullying and extortion.
"We encourage anyone experiencing pressure to send illicit images or being bullied to contact a trusted adult; whether it’s a parent, teacher, School Resource Officer, or family friend. These crimes have lasting impact and trauma on their victims and our local law enforcement community takes these very seriously," said Sgt. Kailey Gilbert, public information officer for the Kent County Sheriff's Office.
Safety Tips and Resources for Victims, Teens, and Parents
- Be selective about what you share online. If your social media accounts are open to everyone, a predator may be able to figure out a lot of information about you.
- Be wary of anyone you encounter for the first time online. Block or ignore messages from strangers.
- Be aware that people can pretend to be anything or anyone online. Videos and photos are not proof that people are who they claim to be. Images can be altered or stolen. In some cases, predators have even taken over the social media accounts of their victims.
- Be suspicious if you meet someone on one game or app and that person asks you to start talking on a different platform.
- Be in the know. Any content you create online—whether it is a text message, photo, or video—can be made public. And nothing actually “disappears” online. Once you send something, you don’t have any control over where it goes next.
- Be willing to ask for help. If you are getting messages or requests online that don’t seem right, block the sender, report the behavior to the site administrator, or go to an adult. If you have been victimized online, tell someone. Being a victim of sextortion is not your fault. You can get through this challenge, even if it seems scary and overwhelming. There are people who want to help.
If you have information about or believe you are a victim of sextortion, contact your local FBI field office, call 1-800-CALL-FBI, or report it online at http://tips.fbi.gov. This FBI PSA and National Center for Missing and Exploited Children PSA share survivor stories and resources for individuals to get help. More FBI sextortion resources are available here.
