Harrisburg School District officials today defended their handling of an alleged cell phone video of a 14-year-old female student performing oral sex on two 18-year-old male students at a private residence.
Superintendent Gerald Kohn said school officials never actually confiscated the cell phone involved nor did they see the alleged video clip that apparently was circulated at Harrisburg High last Thursday.
Kohn said it's the district's policy to confiscate cell phone from students during school hours, returning the phones at the end of the school day.
In this case, Kohn said a student told school officials about the alleged cell phone video, prompting an immediate investigation by high school staff. However, Kohn said school officials never actually had the phone in their possession in order to turn it over to Harrisburg police. As a result, police may now need a search warrant to obtain the phone as evidence in the ongoing criminal investigation.
The school's version differs with an account given by a relative of the victim, who said school officials allowed the male students involved to leave school with their cell phones, despite the sex video allegations.
"They should have taken the phone right there," the relative said. "Instead, they let them leave."
Harrisburg police are investigating the alleged sex acts between the two 18-year-old men and the 14-year-old minor, as well as possible child pornography charges related to the cell phone video, which may have been transmitted to other students' phones at the high school. |