Sexting warning for parents
TRAVERSE CITY -- A Traverse City man is facing several felony charges for trading racy pictures with an underage girl.
19-year old Zachary Ellis and the victim met on Facebook, and soon the two exchanged phone numbers. Investigators with the Grand Traverse County Sheriff's Office say in December the suspect asked her to text him nude photos of herself. Ellis sent inappropriate pictures of himself back.
When he threatened to post the nude pictures online a few weeks ago, the victim told her mother.
Captain Dave Meachum says, "The adult asked for her to meet with him, and if she didn't, he was going to upload pictures of her online. So yah, it was a threat."
Investigators say they found 19 images of child pornography on Ellis's i-phone and computer, including a picture of the victim.
Best-selling author and pediatrician, Dr. Meg Meeker says a lot of parents don't think their kids will get involved with sexting, but she says it’s actually very common.
Dr. Meeker says, "Girls like to recreate themselves. The problem is that they can now do it very publicly. They act sexy and put pictures out there to see how people respond. It's natural, but now with the internet it’s not safe anymore."
Both Dr. Meeker and Captain Meachum say the best way to protect your kids from sexual predators is to check their computer and phone often.
Ellis has been charged with Accosting a Child for Immoral Purposes, Possession of Child Pornography, and Using a Computer to Commit a Crime.
