Florida police cited two teenage students after they were caught allegedly sexting each other in class, a violation of state rules on sexually explicit text messages.
The unnamed 14- and 15-year-olds are accused of sharing a picture of a naked girl taken from Instagram while in class at West Port High School in Marion County, WKMG reported. Ocala police issued citations to both teens and they now face eight hours of community service or being fined.
After downloading the nude photo, one student sent it to the second through the social networking app Kik Messenger, according to police. The second teen, a boy, then sent it to his cousin, Ocala police told the station.
The teens were busted when a school resource officer caught the messages - it is not clear how - and filed a report. The identity of the person in the picture is also unclear.
Under Florida law, sexiting is prohibited for minors. Florida law defines says sexting occurs if the minor "possesses a photograph or video of any person that was transmitted or distributed by another minor which depicts nudity."
A first-time offense is considered a civil infraction and not a crime, which means the sexting teens were not arrested. However, they will have to appear in court.
Law enforcement has been fighting a losing battle against teens and sexting as sharing explicit materials becomes easier with technology.
Police hope word of the teens' punishment, whatever it may be, will spread and discourage others from sexting, Sgt. Angy Scroble told the station.
