Authorities Investigating Alleged Sharing of Inappropriate Photos Involving North Penn Students

The Mounty County District Attorney’s Office and several area police departments are investigating the alleged sharing of inappropriate videos and photos of teen-age girls in the North Penn School District.

Allegedly, male students traded photos of their female classmates by posting them online by using Dropbox, a file-sharing app.

As word spread about the investigation, some students attempted to plan a mass walk-out during the school day on March 30 as a protest, however, few students participated.

North Penn High School Principal Burton Hynes made himself available to the students in the school’s auditorium during lunch hours and after school to answer any questions students may have and to discuss the matter.

He also gave a video address early Monday morning, which has been uploaded to You Tube.

“Last week we began hearing rumors about allegations that students in our school community may have created and shared inappropriate pictures and videos via an online format,” said Hynes in the video. “Please know that these activities are being investigated by local law enforcement agencies. Also understand investigations, such as these, take time to be completed, and there won’t be instant answers to questions that we may have. I continue to urge anyone with knowledge that would contribute to the investigation to such activity to directly contact his or her local police department.”

In the video, Hynes reminds students that leaving the school is against the rules and discipline code. He also informed his students that he would be available for all lunch periods.

Hynes said he would be available “to discuss how we can better educate both our middle school and high school student bodies about online safety, what steps we have already taken, and what we can do while we allow the local law enforcement agencies to sort out the facts.”

Superintendent Dr. Curtis Dietrich posted a message on the school’s district about the allegations and response.

“The current situation involving the investigation of the alleged online sharing of inappropriate photos and videos amongst some of our North Penn High School students is of great concern. Like the community that all of us here at NPSD serve, I am looking for ways we can continue to stress to our students the severity of such actions while at the same time reinforcing the important messages of self-worth and smart decision making.”