Kent County 14-Year-Old Arrested for Exploiting Peers in Sextortion Case

A teenage male from Plainfield Township has been arrested in connection to a sextortion case.

According to the Kent County Sherriff's Office, the arrest of the 14-year-old occurred on Monday, October 14, 2024.

👇The 10 Top Crimes People Were Arrested For in Michigan👇

Sextortion is pressuring another person to send sexually explicit messages or photos then threatening to release them in an attempt to extort the victim.

Police believe the 14-year-old targeted as many as seventeen other teenagers on social media.

READ MORE: More Than 11 Million Pounds of Meat Products Recalled From Stores Like Meijer and Aldi

He's been charged with charged with three counts of Child Sexually Abusive Activity, two counts of Using a Computer to Commit a Crime, and one count of Child Sexually Abusive Material - Possession.

The teen is currently in custody of the Kent County Juvenile Detention Facility.

The Kent County Sheriff's Office stresses the seriousness of the crimes and the impact on the victims and families.

Parents are encourage to speak with their children about the dangers of online bullying and sextortion.

The department said in a release,

As law enforcement continues to investigate, it becomes clear that these crimes are not faceless acts from distant locations but can, and do, happen right here within our community. We encourage anyone experiencing pressure to send illicit images or being bullied to contact a trusted adult; whether it’s a parent, teacher, School Resource Officer, or family friend.

KSCO says they have investigated several school threats since the start of the year along with the spread of child pornography on social media. They continue to take these crimes very seriously.