Gallatin Co. Sheriff Urging Parents to Speak with Children About Explicit Photo Exploitation

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(Gallatin County, Ky.) - The Gallatin County Sheriff's Office says they have been hit with a "rash" of sextortion cases involving juveniles.

At the beginning of the school year, the Sheriff's Office had a talk with students about the dangers of the internet, nudity, and their cell phones.

"We went over a few laws that regulated these offenses and some of their punishments. Our conversation has obviously fallen on deaf ears," reads a news release from the Gallatin County Sheriff's Office.

If someone obtains a sexually explicit photo and threatens to release it unless the victim meets certain demands, it is typically a Class A Misdemeanor, but there are situations which enhance the penalty to a Class D Felony.

"If someone should harm themselves or commit suicide as a