HARRISBURG, PA — Two Lancaster County teenagers were adjudicated delinquent Wednesday in juvenile court after admitting to dozens of felony charges related to manufacturing child sexual abuse material involving manipulated images of classmates, Attorney General Dave Sunday said.
The 16-year-old males admitted earlier this month to 59 felony counts of sexual abuse of children, conspiracy, and a misdemeanor count related to obscene material, according to the Attorney General’s Office.
The case involved “morphed” images, which are digitally altered pictures combining a child’s image with sexually explicit content to make the subject appear nude or engaged in sexual activity.
Lancaster County President Judge Leonard G. Brown III ordered both juveniles to serve six months of probation, complete 60 hours of community service, and pay $12,000 to victims to cover counseling costs.
The court also prohibited the teenagers from contacting victims.
Authorities said the juveniles obtained photos online, primarily from Instagram, and altered them to create the images.
Dozens of victims and family members attended the hearing or submitted impact statements describing emotional distress, including anxiety, depression, and ongoing fear about the potential circulation of the images.
“Many victims and their families articulated in court today their feelings of anxiety, depression, and devastation related to this conduct,” Sunday said.
The proceedings were open to the public because the charges admitted would constitute felonies if filed in adult court, though juvenile cases are typically closed.
The case was initially investigated by local police and referred to the Attorney General’s Child Predator Section for prosecution.
Senior Deputy Attorney General Janie Swinehart prosecuted the case and presented victim impact statements during the hearing.
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