Bothell High School Cheerleaders - The parents of two cheerleaders at Bothell High School in western Washington are suing the school district for mishandling racy photos of the two cheerleaders.
The Bothell High School cheerleaders took racy cellphone photos of themselves and then “accidentally” sent them to other students, including members of the football team.
In the course of investigating the racy cheerleader photos, the Bothell High School administrators took a good long look at the pics, but the girls parents allege in their lawsuit that they were not properly notified of the incident that led to the cheerleaders suspension from the cheer squad.
One of the photos was taken three years ago, according to court documents. Showing the girl topless, it was sent to her then-boyfriend’s phone in the summer of 2005. Later that summer, the picture accidentally was distributed to other Bothell High students, according to her lawsuit.
The other teen’s photo was taken in June, when she and a fellow cheerleader used their cell phones to each snap photos of themselves naked, according to her lawsuit. Those photos were later accidentally sent to other Bothell High students, though the parents attorney Matthew King said it was unclear how that happened.
Shortly after the June photos were taken, school officials heard rumors the pictures were circulating among students, particularly football players. They sent a letter to all cheerleaders’ parents, warning that if inappropriate photos were found, it could result in suspension from the squad.
Football players were told to delete the pictures from their cell phones if they received them, according to the lawsuits.
In August, school administrators received copies of both photos. The two sides dispute who first contacted police — the school or the girls’ parents — and whether the parents were properly notified of the incident.
Both lawsuits, filed Monday in King County Superior Court, accuse school administrators of violating the girls’ due process rights, needlessly sharing the photos with other school staff members and failing to promptly report the matter to police as possible child pornography.
Attorney Matthew King, who represents both families, said it also was troubling that the teens were punished, but football players and other students at the school who sent or received the texts were not.
“My clients fully realize what they did was stupid,” King said, adding that the girls never intended for the photos to be distributed and have been mortified by the entire incident.
And that’s the latest news on the lawsuit involving racy photos of the Bothell High School cheerleaders.
Tags: bothell high school cheerleaders, cheerleader, cheerleader photos, cheerleader racy photos, high school cheerleaders, hot pics, racy cellphone photos, racy cheerleader photos
November 24th, 2008 at 5:52 am
show us the racy photos !!!!
November 24th, 2008 at 7:06 pm
Just to enlighten you folks, the pictures are classed as “kiddieporn” by the federal government and as such carry a 7 year prison term for mere possession of them. All the boy genuises on the football team who shared them are guilty of a felony and could be, and should be sent to prison for 7 years, AND YES IT IS THE LAW. LOOK IT UP.
November 28th, 2008 at 1:27 am
okay, so half the pictures you have with this article aren’t even of the current team that has the girls on it, so im bot really sure why those would be on here…
November 29th, 2008 at 2:58 am
So… these idiot girls send pics to their bf’s.. who are the same age as they are (I assume, since they are all in high school), and it’s not the boyfriend’s fault? If what those moron teenagers are saying is true, and they only sent it to ONE person, why isn’t *he* being charged with anything?
December 3rd, 2008 at 6:51 am
Well isn’t that special.
(that wasn’t a question)
Figures in or liberal dumbass State we get parents trying to pimp their daughters AT Bothell HS.
If I had tramps like that for daughters I would suspend them until they turn 18 from the HS.
Glad I only have a son……who like most boys try to find those girls at a party.
I went to Bothell HS in 1975 and my Dad is from the Class of 1952.
When I was a kid my grandfather was the only barber in Bothell and my grandmother owned the cafe which is no longer there.
And there was a giant Christmas tree.
I only email dad about the football scores so this one won’t make it to him from me.
But then it was on Fox News tonight so several million people saw that.
Of course these idiots watch MSNBC
I hope they grow up to look just like Christine Gregoire.
December 3rd, 2008 at 6:16 pm
I just love how many accidents happens….
December 4th, 2008 at 7:59 am
U guys are morons. Send them to jail for 7 years for being boys. It’s the girls fault and why they are suiing is beside me. Parents being idiots only cause they found out there daughters are having sex. I bet girls don’t even want the lawsuit and only makes it more public. Great parenting I say. It’s parents fault. Every person on here. Well most unless complete band dorks in hs went to parties and had fun so why make this a big deal. Makes it more public and embarrasing.
December 4th, 2008 at 8:30 am
Kiddie porn? It’s not kiddie porn when someone under 18 sends a nude photo to someone else under 18.
Two 16 year olds having sex is rape by the male? Assuming, of course the two 16 year olds having sex are of the opposite sex. All apologies to the homosexual community if someone how making that assumption was offensive to you.
December 4th, 2008 at 8:54 am
I think these girls are great. In most countries they would be prostitutes by now. Here in the good old usa they an sue for their own stupidity. Its just nice to know that my son will be able to choose from a wide variety of “practice girls” when he gets to junior high and high school, but we have some time he’s only 2. I spent a lot of years in the corps and compared to other nations these girls are really lucky. with these girls i could start become a famous porn producer.
December 4th, 2008 at 9:04 am
These girls have produced and distributed child pornography to other children. It does not matter that it is of themselves. This is a Felony.
December 4th, 2008 at 9:26 am
WTF….hasn’t anyone ever heard of skinny dipping when you were kids. According to the people here, all the kids that took part in that time honored kid tradition (if you didn’t take part…I’m sorry, it was an eye opening experience…especially if you’re 13) would be locked up as sex predators. Kids taking pictures of themselves and sending them to other kids….no big deal! Kids want acceptance and approval from their peers (i.e. boyfriends/girlfriends). If anything, it should be a matter of parents talking to the kids about the implications of what they did…but nothing more than that. The police shouldn’t be involved, the school shouldn’t be involved (or looking at the pictures).
December 4th, 2008 at 10:02 am
[...] - Community Events (search.ci.bothell.wa.us/photoalbum/…/CommunityEventPhotos3.html) [2] Bothell High School Cheerleaders (a11news.com/1057/bothell-high-school-cheerleaders) [3] Liberty Bell Spirit Squad::Instructors, Coaches [...]
December 4th, 2008 at 11:39 am
If the parents can sue the school dist. Why can’t the school Dist call in CPS? Obviously the parents neglected to do their job and now the girls have a bright future as sluts.
As a parent of a high school male.. no naked pics of him.. I did my job!
If you want to act like a stupid adult, you get the punishment of a stupid adult. Mom and Dad you are helping these girls become all that they can be…. prostitutes. Maybe it’s time to blame yourself as parents instead of passing the buck. I would be ashamed as a parent, VERY ASHAMED!
December 4th, 2008 at 12:14 pm
Give me a break!! The girls were stupid for doing it in the first place. Just because it “backfired” and others (not intended for) saw the pics, the parents want to sue???? Infriggincredible!!!! Lets not take responsibility for their children and their actions, let’s sue someone. That’s a real lesson for your not so bright daughters. My daughter is a cheerleader- which doesn’t make her a slut, but taking and sending naked pictures of each other does. Suck it up girls!!! What you did was stupid. OH…and thanks for encouraging more of the “all cheerleaders are sluts” mentality!
December 4th, 2008 at 12:23 pm
This is so typical of parents these days, sue the school, don’t blame their daughters call them victims. What a bunch of BS. Pehaps a little personal responsibility, after all who took the pics, and who initially sent the pics. Your daughters are an embarrasment to a fine school and as parents you are equally embarrasing. I think if you spent more time teaching your kids right from wrong and less time trying to cover it up with this ridiculous law suit your kids would be better served and the school district wouldn’t have to waste it’s time and money on it which would be better for all the kids in the district…
December 4th, 2008 at 1:59 pm
Lets be real…their cheerleaders….not rocket scientists! Whatever happened to the old adage that girls will be girls and boy will be boys? The best part of this story is where the cheerleaders, “accidently” sent their naked photos to friends and classmates; including the football team! Hmmm…how do you “accidently” send out nude photo of yourself? Oh shucks, I forgot; their cheerleaders!!!
Why not just make them mow the school grounds or have them do community service in the hospital or Old Folks Home? Heck no! Instead, some yahoo thinks its a good idea to give one gal a 30 day suspension and the other a 1 year suspension! Never mind the smile the girls put on the boys faces! Those girls probably gave the boys the best *free* sex-ed lesson of their lives!
December 4th, 2008 at 2:41 pm
Doesn’t anybody actually read?
“Both lawsuits, filed Monday in King County Superior Court, accuse school administrators of violating the girls’ due process rights, needlessly sharing the photos with other school staff members and failing to promptly report the matter to police as possible child pornography”
THE LAW was broken because teachers have no right to request nude photos of cheerleaders and then kick them off the squad.
Nude and topless photos of underage girls is not kiddie porn unless its sexually explicit–like involves close-ups, dogs, and cucumbers or something…just saying…thats what U.S. law says. Look it up.
Christ, are you the same people that voted for Obama?
December 4th, 2008 at 3:08 pm
If you liked this story, then you’ll appreciate this one:
http://a11news.com/1088/brianna-broitzman/
December 4th, 2008 at 3:15 pm
Where the girls even nice looking, that all that matters.
December 4th, 2008 at 3:38 pm
It’s Bothell of coarse they voted for Obama. We are now in the age of no consequences and “i’m a victim” mentality. It’s a case of stupid parents raising sluts for daughters because it’s easier than instilling any sort of moral fibre or self respect.
December 4th, 2008 at 4:28 pm
I work in a nursing home assisting the elderly. I hope I live long enough for these two fine young ladies to be patients of mine.
I’d like them to experience the same kind of treatment they found so funny. I know I will be laughing.
December 4th, 2008 at 5:40 pm
Sign of the times people…… That’s all I can say. That is where technology has brought us to. It’s good and it’s bad it all depends on how a person chooses to use it.
December 4th, 2008 at 6:21 pm
None of the boys need to be sent to prison at all. That is crazy!!! I get all kinds of jokes and naked crap sent to me by my friends. I am sure they knew it was their cheerleaders but still. Prison is not for some kid that forwarded a image from a cell phone.
December 4th, 2008 at 6:44 pm
its not the first time this has happened its happened at my school and it even went to the jr. high as long as its not all around the internet which it probobly is it doesnt really matter things like this happen way more than you think it does and if u want to punish them you might as well find the thousands of teenages that have have things like this on their phones its the girls faults to have sent the pictures anyways.
December 4th, 2008 at 7:40 pm
people, no matter what age or culture, have always been stupid when young. it’s the responsibility of the mature to guide the young ones until they can stand. we seem to have forgotten this in america.
December 4th, 2008 at 10:37 pm
What a bunch of f**ing morons these parents turn out to be! This confirms without a doubt that some people should not be allowed to have kids.. they certainly don’t know how to be parents. This is the prodigy of the liberal left… I hope you are truly proud. I would slap your dumba** with a $10,000 fine and put you in jail for a year. Then I’d lock up your bimbo daughters or force them into an all girls school for the duration of your stays. What a pathetic excuse for parenting. I think I just threw up in my mouth!!
December 5th, 2008 at 2:05 am
This whole situation is SO stupid…first of all it annoys me that parents can NEVER take responsibility for their kids. They always have to blame someone else. Also this is just gaining more attention when it could have just been kept quiet and saved the girls embarrassment…I live in bothell and I heard about this incident from my friend in friggin UTAH..that’s what a media circus this has turned into…they are teenage girls, they sent a few pics to some ppl (of course it wasn’t an accident! They just don’t want to admit that to their parents) as shocking as it is to most ppl it really is normal. Teenagers do these things. Parents can deal with it the way they see fit but its absolutely absurd to blame or sue the school..also ppl shouldn’t be punished for RECEIVING a text..if someone sends me a picture text how is that my fault?? I get innapropriate stuff sent all the time, I can’t control what ppl decide to send to my phone. Leave these poor girls alone..and parents..don’t sue, you are making yourselves look retarted.. Teach morals instead or don’t let silly becky run around unsupervised with a cell phone
December 5th, 2008 at 8:13 am
Hey samson, I guess MSNBC doesnt have as much class as, say FOX news, right? Especially considering Fox has put up the racy photo of the teens ON THEIR OWN WEBSITE: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,353953,00.html You should give O’Reilly and Hannity a rest and get educated, watch some Olbermann.
December 5th, 2008 at 9:40 am
I do hope these girls parents realize a over zealous prosecutor or lawyer could sue them and prosicute them as child porn creators and distributors.
If I was one of these boys/kids parent that got the “accidental” I would get a lawyer and press charges against those girls. These girls creating and distributing porn sexually abused my child causing emotional damage. Providing porn and child porn is illigal.
Yes, the school should have handled it differently. They should have reported the girls and had charges pressed against them with out delay. They the state should have subpoena all the cell phones and charge all the senders for distributing child porn. Give a break to the kids that didn’t pass it forward. They might not have asked for it in the first place. This way half the school is all convicted sex offenders that have to register. And not able to participate in school because child sex offenders are not allowed around minors. You know all these kids are dangerous to our society. (sarcasm)
*****************
In reality–girls parents get a life. It is easier to deal with the start of the problem YOUR GIRLS thand to figure out who all has the photos your GIRLS created and “accidently” sent out.
December 5th, 2008 at 2:58 pm
come post celebrity stories on whohaveyoumet.com
December 5th, 2008 at 3:49 pm
To everyone who says that these KIDS should be put in jail for taking and distributing these pics I have one thing to say. If I EVER met you in real life I would kill you. Yes, I would fucking murder you, because America does not need this moral panic over some naked pictures. The laws are a fucked up when a 13 year old girl can be put on a sex offender list and not be able to get a job for the rest of her life. Just because she wanted to show her body. America, fuck you, I hope you burn.
December 5th, 2008 at 7:25 pm
You people do realize that in this generation, 85-90% if teenage girls will take naked, topless, or underwear pictures in their High School career? These girls aren’t SLUTS for one picture sent to their boyfriends. That’s called being an average teenage girl. And if the parents should be suing for anything, it should mostly be for the fact that the ADMINISTRATION, viewed and distributed the pictures. Fuck the kids, their kids. It’s high school, not a prostitution ring.
December 5th, 2008 at 7:30 pm
IN ADDITION: Considering we don’t live in the town, go to the school, or know the girls, we really shouldn’t be commenting about the morality of or the situation (which nobody but friends and family truly know) and just say, “Hmmm, silly girls” Cause seeing comments about a scandal that’s going on in MY school right now, I’M pissed about the ignorant comments that people are saying. Leave the girls alone. (To all those that thought “Chris Crocker”…. no.)
December 5th, 2008 at 7:46 pm
The funny thing is, is the fact that this story isn’t true at all. the two cases are totally different and there was another girl involved but is not suing the only similarity is they were punished at the same time. One girl should have not been in trouble at all and the other one had a right to get kicked off the squad. The fact that is being brought to the public’s eye is ridiculous, everyone has moved on at school so should they.
December 5th, 2008 at 7:49 pm
Oh and also if EVERY person was to get into jail then i’m pretty sure all of the greater northwest between the ages of 15-19 will be in jail considering the pictures made it to every high school in the district and beyond.
that’s ridiculous the boys were just being teenagers, the girls are the ones with no consciences to realize that they are putting themselves ind anger considering they were on code the WHOLE time.
December 6th, 2008 at 1:32 am
Suing the district for “mishandling” the firestorm that their children created is absolutely ridiculous.
I heard on the news that one of the parents’ main complaints is that the football team did not get punished as the cheerleaders did - and they are demanding that the girls’ records be expunged. WTH….??!!
The parents are sending the message - to their obviously attention-starved girls - that they can just have their “oopsies” in life “erased”…. because not EVERYone who saw the picture (that THEY created & sent out willingly) was punished??! That is completely messed up thinking.
My son is a student at BHS and the picture hit his cell phone as well…. is HE now to be punished??!! Insane.
The cheerleaders deserved the punishment they got and their records should NOT be cleared. The only other one that might even be a possible for punishment is the “one” football player they claim to have sent it to… but - does anyone doubt (as I do) that they only sent it to ONE guy?!
C’mon, these girls are so desperately crying out for ATTENTION that they are willing to get NAKED to get it…!!
Cheerleader Parents - those girls need your guidance, love and attention… to stop being such pits of insecurity. They don’t need your lawyers!!!
It’s sickening that the district is having to defend itself from this stupidity, wasting our tax dollars because some attention desperate girls can’t keep their clothes on.
December 6th, 2008 at 8:10 am
Gee, a girl takes a picture of herself naked. So what? It’s not any business of the school in the first place. These are private communications between two people. This is ridiculous and the school should be sued. It isn’t any of their business.
There is nothing illegal here. And in the days before cell phones and digital cameras they simply showed it in person. People need to stop getting their panties in a bunch and grow up.
What next, your pictures on the beach in a bikini are too revealing???
The schools need to stop worrying about this stupid stuff and start worrying about education!!
December 6th, 2008 at 1:50 pm
I find this whole discussion to be very interesting. So many people don’t seem to have a problem with this. Could this actually be the issue?
For those of you who are trying to claim this is acceptable behavior, no one elses business, or such, I respectfully suggest you aquiant yourselves with:
US TITLE 18, PART I, CHAPTER 110, § 2256
If you are smart enough to use a computer and make statements on this, then please be aware of the LAW. If you disagree with it, then get off you duff and vote to change it. Until then be responsible.
As for these girls. Dumb move. Never, ever publish anything you don’t want others to see, and if you are dumb enough to take photos of yourself to send to your friends, don’t be surprised when they get distributed. Also, because they are minors taking nude photos of each other, that IS a felony called child pornography, and yes, each and every person that distributed that photo is also guilty. Those who just received them are in a questionable status that is still being debated via ethics committees nationwide, and their status can be viewed as one who did not obey the law and report this illicit behavior.
As for the parents. Whining and complaining that their precious children were removed from an extra curricular activity. Oh my. The parents are the enablers here. Perhaps if they were to reword the lawsuit I’d feel differently, since I agree that the other students have some culpability here, and I also question the handling of this issue by the school administration.
Finally, what is being done about the adult school administration? Did they properly handle these photographs? Were they within their rights to direct students to delete these images from their cell phones, thus tampering with evidence? The entire issue needs to be addressed from the top down, by someone outside the school.
For now, I hope the parents and their attorneys get some back pressure from a district attorney with respect to the law and their children.
December 6th, 2008 at 5:11 pm
I agree- punishing a teenager for taking a naked picture of herself and privately sending it to people is ridiculous, and certainly not what a school should do.
When will we stop being so mixed up about sexuality?
December 6th, 2008 at 8:48 pm
I agree….leave the girls alone…the school should just worry about education….who cares if they take dirty pictures or come to school naked…i mean the other students would be able to put hte naked pictures out of their minds and be able to learn with them in the classroom or not masturbate under their desks with the girls in the same classroom….right????…what has America come to…
December 7th, 2008 at 12:29 am
fuck bothell i dont give a shit let them do what they want . i bet they are mortified by their parents doing this to them.
December 8th, 2008 at 1:47 am
Is it not known by all citizens of the world today that there are consequences for illicit activities which would not normally be conducted in front of an audience of random onlookers. Paris may have bolstered her fame through nightvision, but most if not all people suffer reprecussions far worse for posting their abilities to conduct acts of a sensual nature. Paris broadcasted her ability to swallow, pleasure, and commentate on her cell. The difference here is the age of the participants and the credibility of everyone involved. These girls, attractive as they may be, should certainly be more careful as to what is photographed. Pictures are a double edged sword, and unless you desire to post your personal life to all the web (good and bad) use caution or a polaroid camera as well as common sense. Capturing any illicit activity on camera should be done with great discretion. Think before posing nude (especially if you are underage). No major offense to pedophiles by this statement, but they are the scum of the sewage laden waste disposal facility. To the girls, mistake was made learn from it and don’t fuel the fire that consumes the hearts and fate of internet deviants. Less revelation of yourself increases desire for someone you are interested in to strive for the chance to actually want to know about you rather than recieve it only to pass it around and harm the person that truly matters. Keep you heads up, guard your trust of others, and make sure to keep your clothes on until you are at least 18 and receiving enough money for it to support your whole family for life. (Just a suggestion.)
December 9th, 2008 at 12:47 am
Rog, it’s you who should read 18 U.S.C. 2256 more closely. It does not outlaw breast exposure of a minor unless sexual activity is taking place, like simulated or actual sexual intercourse.
Federal courts and the US Supreme Court have said that simple non-sexual nudity is protected expression. What if these pictures just show girls standing in front of mirrors without their tops on? One of the 13 year olds is said to have revealed nothing more than her breasts. That’s protected expression.
The 13 year old wasn’t being exploited by somebody else when her photo was made, because she shot the picture herself. The majority in a 2002 US Supreme Court case, Ashcroft v. Free Speech Coalition, held that “where the speech is neither obscene nor the product of sexual abuse, it does not fall outside the protection of the First Amendment”. Nudity itself is not obscene, even if it might be considered indecent, and somebody posing for their own camera is not sexual abuse either.
December 11th, 2008 at 3:44 am
I second that! Being nude is not a crime!
“They are protected by the First Amendment and are not subject to local obscenity laws or ordinances. The depiction of adults and children nude in the visual media has enjoyed constitutional protection in the United States since 1958…(Sunshine Book Co. v. Summerfield, Postmaster General, 355 U.S. 372). The right to depict adults and children in innocent nude poses has been upheld without a pause for 41 years. In case after case, the Supreme Court and lower courts have always upheld the constitutionality of “nudity without more,” specifically referring to the nudist depiction as a fully constitutional form of expression.”
http://www.bebaretoo.com/legal.html
December 31st, 2008 at 2:36 am
The one girl got kicked off completely because all athletes are on code which means that your not allowed to be at a party… She got caught last year and had a warning and this was the last straw