Mimi McCann ’13: Several Radnor High School students are at the center of a criminal investigation after allegedly disseminating an explicit video from a stolen phone.
Upon discovery of new information, more students, including those in the tape, will be subject to investigation.
On Wednesday afternoon, a fight broke out in the cafeteria of Radnor High School between two male students. Jack Lunger, Radnor High School ’15, recounted, “There was a fight at school on Wednesday between a sophomore and a junior. The principal broke it up and brought the kids into the principal’s office.”
When the principal asked the boys why they were fighting, “It turned out that one of the kids had gotten a hold of [the other student’s phone] that had on it a sex tape that he had made with his girlfriend,” recalled Lunger.
The student who stole the phone allegedly “sent the video to a few people who then sent it to a few other people.”
Chris Flanagan, Radnor Police Lieutenant, reported that on Wednesday morning “at approximately 10:00, officers were dispatched by our 911 communications center to the Radnor high school for a report of a disturbance.”
Upon police arrival, the fight had already been broken up and the students had been sent to the office of the Principal. “The officers separated [the boys] and began a quick interview.”
The police discovered that the fight was based upon “allegations of a stolen cell phone…[which] contained particular information to the victim and due to the allegation that the internal contents of that phone may have been disseminated to a group of people who are not completely known.”
After the interview, the two students involved in the fight were brought to the police headquarters to speak with Radnor detectives.
The nature or content of the pictures and videos on the phone is not entirely known. Flanagan made it clear that “The police have not yet viewed any information.”
Radnor Police is working to acquire warrants for the cell phones of certain students believed to be involved. They will then investigate what information was sent throughout the school through texting or other social media mediums. The police will then be able to identify who was involved and the scope of the distribution of the video.
At this point in time, Flanagan stated, “We know for a fact that a phone was stolen so I know at least a theft charge will occur.” Flanagan said the Police will “brief” the district attorney’s office regarding other charges because the police do have “some concerns.”
Because the victims are juveniles, the police cannot by law release names or content of the video. However, Lunger believes that the contents under question were of a sexual nature.
The boy, who initiated the fight, was referred to as the “victim” by police forces and “is suspended from school for a week, or five school days, for instigating a fight,” according to Lunger.
“The other kid involved in the fight and his two friends to whom he sent the video are not suspended. They are probably in more trouble than the kid who got suspended. They could possibly be charged with distributing child pornography.”
All involved are juveniles and attend Radnor High School. According to the National Criminal Justice System Service, Pennsylvania is one of 21 states with the power to try juveniles in adult criminal court on a case-by-case basis.
“It’s a great opportunity for people observing this to see how serious it can be if you send out [unauthorized] material to others,” noted Flanagan. “You could face criminal charges, even if you are underage.”

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