FARGO (KFGO/KVRR) – On Monday, North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation executed a search warrant at Davies High School targeting several students who they allege were creating and distributing sexually explicit materials.
According to the BCI the students were allegedly using Snapchat to share the material. They have not revealed how many students are under investigation.
While the ages of the victim or victims is still unknown, this type of sexual exploitation has been a growing trend across the country.
“I think it’s something that we’re all looking at more critically… just seeing the rate of the victimization that happens in the online sphere,” said Christopher Johnson, CEO of the Rape and Abuse Crisis Center of Fargo-Moorhead.
Democratic North Dakota State Senator Ryan Braunberger of Fargo was on the Judiciary Committee when they recommended a law criminalizing the sharing of sexually explicit material without consent.
“We see, unfortunately, an increase in sex crimes across the nation, particularly with people in power. And using that to extort others is very dangerous,” Braunberger said.
For the victims, Johnson says they can feel like they are being repeatedly exploited as the images or videos are spread.
“We know things spread like wildfire on the internet,” Johnson said. “That is what makes the victimization of this so damaging. It’s difficult to find resolution when the victimization is still occurring.”
And while they do work to educate children in schools on developing healthy relationships at times it can be hard to combat the messages kids can receive online.
“It is tricky to maintain a message when there’s so much noise out there, especially now, that are kind of proposing the opposite. And like I said we have seen an increase in that,” Johnson said.
In a statement, Attorney General Drew Wrigley said the investigation will be overseen by the Cass County State’s Attorney’s office, and that the BCI will continue to assist throughout.
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