Teenage boy charged in sextortion case

PLAINFIELD TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WOOD) – Officers say a 14-year-old Plainfield Township boy is facing charges after allegedly pressuring other teens to send inappropriate images.

According to the Kent County Sheriff’s Office, the boy was arrested Monday and faces multiple charges: three counts of child sexual abuse, two counts of using a computer to commit a crime and one count of possession of sexually child abuse material.

Investigators say they believe he used social media to target 17 other teens and pressure them to send illegal images.

Officers called it a sex tortion case.

“Sextortion is a term used to describe the act of pressuring someone to send inappropriate images and then threatening to release them in an attempt to extort the victim,” they wrote in a press release.

The sheriff’s office highlighted the dangers of extortion and online bullying.

“As law enforcement agencies continue to investigate, it is becoming clear that these crimes are not faceless acts from far-flung locations, but can happen right here within our community,” deputies wrote. “We encourage anyone experiencing pressure to send illegal images or bullying to contact a trusted adult; whether it is a parent, teacher, School Resource Officer or family friend.

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