1001 Reasons LA is Better than Florida
Two teenage lovebirds, Amber and Jeremy, decided to get naked and take pictures of each other. Now maybe you've never been a teenage boy before, but if you had ever been one, and your girlfriend not only allows you to see her naked but invites you to take pictures of her, you'd do it. Fast. Just like how you do everything else with your naked girlfriend.
Especially if she's letting you take pictures of her having sex with you.
After the photo session, the 16-year-old girlfriend then emailed the saucy snaps from her computer to her 17-year-old boyfriend's email account.
Everything's fine right? Not so fast. Unfortunately they did this in Florida where for some reason they have decided to forget about the spirit of the Child Pornography laws, and they now only pay attention to the letter of the law.
Amber and Jeremy were arrested. Each was charged with producing, directing or promoting a photograph featuring the sexual conduct of a child. Based on the contents of his e-mail account, Jeremy was charged with an extra count of possession of child pornography.Nice work Florida, now a guy who simply did what his girlfriend wanted now has a kiddie porn rap to follow him around his entire life which includes registering as a sex offender, etc. Heck of a way to send a 17 year old on the path of a budding life.photo by wedgeh...
In other words, under Florida law, Amber and Jeremy would be legally permitted to engage in carnal relations, but they're criminals if they document it.
Amber's attorney claimed that the right to privacy protected by the Florida Constitution shielded the teen from prosecution, an argument that a trial judge rejected. Amber pleaded no contest to the charges and was placed on probation, though she reserved her right to appeal her constitutional claim.
By a 2-1 vote, the appeals court didn't buy it.