Classes continue after Tredyffrin-Easttown child porn scandal

BERWYN, Pa. (WPVI) -- Students returned to class Wednesday morning at Tredyffrin-Easttown Middle School, the day after charges were announced against three students who attend the school and nearby Valley Forge Middle School.

The students between 11 and 15 years old are charged in connection with allegedly creating and sending sexually explicit images.

A source close to a student involved tells Action News last April, a 6th grader sent an explicit image to another classmate.

That classmate did the same.

The images displayed sexually graphic conduct.

But soon those images were being shared with classmates and uploaded to cyber chats via social networking applications.

Police say one student tried to sell an intimate image of a classmate to another student and in one case, a sex act was taken off the internet and portrayed as being that of a female student.

Police are urging parents to speak with their children about laws and etiquette in using electronic devices.

"Engage in dialogue with your kids. Sit down, find out about their social media status. What are they saying to each other? What are they texting to each other. Can you sit down with your child and say let me see your text messages?" Tredyffrin Police Detective Sgt. Todd J Bereda said.

The school district released the following statement saying they were fully cooperating and the students could face additional school based discipline:

The T/E School District has been cooperating with a police investigation related to alleged misconduct by middle school students. We take these matters very seriously and follow up with procedures that promote safety for all students. The incident may also carry school-based discipline. As such, the District cannot comment on specific student discipline matters, as we must do all we can to preserve the privacy rights of all students.

The District has cooperated fully with law enforcement agencies throughout this investigation and will continue to do so. We join with the police and the entire community to emphasize responsible use of technology and to affirm the rights of all individuals to live and thrive in an environment free from harassment. This message is central to our mission and our daily work with students.

Mark Cataldi
Director of Assessment and Accountability
District Safety Coordinator