Student faces child porn charge after allegedly recording boy with special needs

Rasheed O. Reid

Rasheed O. Reid

Authorities in Spalding County are asking parents to check their children’s phones after they learned high school students were sharing pornographic video of a classmate.

A 17-year-old student is facing charges in connection with the distribution of the video, which was recorded during school hours, according to Spalding County Sheriff Darrell Dix. A spokesman for Dix said the incident happened at a school in the Griffin-Spalding County School System but did not confirm which one.

“This video was of a 15-year-old student that we are considering the victim due to circumstances uncovered during the investigation,” a sheriff’s spokesman said on Facebook.

The student has special needs, according to the sheriff’s office.

The sheriff’s office was first made aware of the video on Friday. The parents of the 15-year-old boy have been notified, the spokesman said, but the video continues to be shared among students.

“At this point our priority is protecting the victim and stopping the spread of this video,” the spokesman said. “What happened is a crime. It is unlawful to record, posses, or distribute child pornography, and the student who made the video has been charged accordingly. Students who shared or possessed the video can also be charged. These incidents can destroy young people’s lives and often drive some to harm themselves or commit suicide.”

The 17-year-old student, identified as Rasheed O. Reid, has been arrested on a felony charge of distribution of child pornography. Authorities said he will likely be charged as an adult, Channel 2 Action News reported.

Deputies are now urging parents to inspect their children’s phones and delete the video or any other pornographic content.

They are also encouraging parents to protect their children and others by keeping a close eye on kids’ activity on phones and social media.

“If they don’t like it,” the spokesman said, “be a parent, not a friend.”

Additional charges are possible as the investigation continues.

—Please return to AJC.com for updates.

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