Dozens of Munster HS students suspended for sexting

Dozens of students have been suspended at a school in Munster, Indiana after a sexting epidemic at the school Friday.

Munster High School Superintendent Richard Sopko says two female students, 15 and 16-years-old had texted inappropriate photos of themselves last summer to their boyfriends, only to have them resurface on their school campus recently. That prompted one of their mothers to complain to school officials. As a result, a dozen male students, including an 18-year-old, have been suspended for three days.

A Munster High School Senior, who didn't want to be identified, tells FOX 32 that a close friend was suspended in the school's sexting scandal that came to light last Thursday.

"A lot of nude photos of girls at my high school were sent around to the guys," the student says. "The girls would send to one guy and they guy would send them around to a bunch of people."

"They admitted to displaying inappropriate images on their cell phones to other students," Spoko explains.

The Munster student handbook says cell phones must be turned off during school hours. The superintendent says the 12 male students admitted to violating the policy by showing the photos on their phones to others during school hours.

"We have 12 confiscated phones, which by our policy if you're using your phone we can do, and our administration was going through those phones, plus the students readily admitted it," Sopko says.

This student says sexting among his peers is extremely common.

"When somebody does it, everybody knows about it," the student says.

The two girls who apparently sent those inappropriate photos will not be in trouble because the sexting happened outside of the school, the superintendent says.

Munster State Police and the Attorney's Office are investigating to determine if criminal charges will be filed.