Nude Photo Scandal: Students Possibly Competing To Collect Most Photos
CAÑON CITY, Colo. (CBS4)- A nude photo scandal at Cañon City High School consisted of students who appeared to be competing to see who could collect the most photos.
The photos were hidden using ghost apps, one looks like a working calculator but when the right numbers are entered- a secret code- a hidden photo album pops up.
"I was so naive, I had no idea this was out there," said Cañon City High School Bret Meuli.
Meuli says the lengths his students were going to hide hundreds of nude photos of each other is shocking, "It was flooring to us on how many photos we were finding."
A tip into the school's Safe To Tell program launched the investigation on Monday. In just a few days, administrators learned hundreds of students from 8th grade to seniors in high school may have been involved and may have been collecting the photos as some sort of game.
"You think you're checking your child's phone and you know what's going on in their world," said parent Rebecca Ellis.
Ellis has a step-daughter who attends the high school. She and hundreds of other parents attended Thursday night's meeting with school administrators for answers.
"You wouldn't even be aware of it unless you know technology," said Ellis.
What administrators found has reached beyond school discipline and has been turned over to police because the photos are sexual in nature and of children, the images are considered child pornography.
When asked whether hundreds of of students could face felony charges, Fremont County District Attorney Thom LeDoux replied, "I hope not... We don't know."
LeDoux said when it comes to charges they will focus on cases that involve adults, any type of coercion or bullying and images that were shared publicly.
Because a number of football players were involved in the scandal the school district decided it would be in the best interest of the community to cancel the final game of the season scheduled for Friday.
