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A 17-year-old Manassas teen is facing felony charges for allegedly sexting his girlfriend, who was 15 at the time.

NBC4 reports that the teen was caught sexting a with his then-girlfriend in January and “was charged with manufacturing and distributing child pornography.” According to the Post, the incident started when the teen’s girlfriend sent him nude pics, and then the 17-year-old responded with a video of his, um, private parts. The video was discovered by the girl’s mother who then filed a complaint.

After the teen was arrested, police took pictures of his genitalia for evidence, the teen’s aunt tells NBC4:

“He said they took him to a room and took pictures of his genitalia…I asked if they’re allowed to do that, and [he] said, ‘I tried to refuse,’” which he did, he didn’t want to do it. They told him if he did not they would do it by force.”

But that’s not even the most disturbing part of the story. According to the Post, prosecutors want to take a second round of photos of his member for evidence, this time erect, which they may do by “forcing him to a hospital and giving him an injection,” according to the teen’s lawyers.

The teen currently faces two felony charges, but his defense attorney is gearing up to fight the charges along with questioning why he’s the only minor facing charges in this case. If convicted, he would have to register as a sex offender and serve time in prison. He’s reportedly due in court in August, when a judge will decide if his case will go on to trial.

Neither Manassas police nor a prosecuting lawyer for Prince William County would comment on the questionable evidence-gathering practice, but the teen’s guardian tells NBC4 that he thinks what they did is “effectively child abuse.”

Filed Under: meanwhile in viriginia, sexting case, teen sexting,