***MEDIA ALERT***

THE HUGE IMPLICATIONS THE FIVE PAHRUMP STUDENTS COULD FACE FOR SEXTING

Attorney John Cereso Believes Nevada Texting Laws Need to be Reformed to Protect Teens From Facing the Same Felony Criminal Records as Sexual Predators

Las VegasAttorney John Cereso, an experienced criminal defense lawyer on sex crimes and founder and owner of Nevada Law Group (NLG), is available to share his thoughts about the huge implications the five Pahrump students, recently in the news could face for sexting and why Nevada texting laws need to be reformed in order to protect teens from facing the same felony criminal records as adult sexual predators.

If a teenager sends consensual photos to another teenager, criminal child pornography felony charges can result in Nevada and most other states.  The child pornography criminal laws that include "sexting" offenses were written with sexual predators in mind and don't reflect the reality that most sexting crimes are between teenagers via cell phones.

"Is it reasonable for a teenager to face a felony sex offense and be required to register as a sex offender on a nationwide database for sending or receiving a suggestive photo from a girlfriend or boyfriend," says Cereso.  "The fact is nearly all teens have cellular phones with cameras, and the adolescent mind is known to make poor decisions.  Mistakes on judgment are difficult to undo and have significant social and legal implications.  Most of these teen sexting circumstances, though dangerous, should absolutely not lead to felony criminal penalties."

Cereso believes the Nevada Legislature needs to reform laws  and consider alternative juvenile laws to avoid teenagers gaining a permanent criminal records as a sex offender for life.

MEDIA: To schedule an interview with Attorney John Cereso, please contact Renee Roberts (Fierro Communications) at 702-350-7300

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