Authorities in Boone say they’ve discovered an online database of nude girls while a high school boy is accused of trying to blackmail the young women in the pictures and videos. It was revealed that numerous past and present high school students were in control and operated several online-based storage accounts that contained various photographs and videos of nude juvenile females. Over 100 users had access to the accounts.
Boone Police said it appears the collection was amassed over several years by area high school students. During the investigation, law enforcement officers seized and took over several separate online-based accounts and email accounts that contained the nude pictures and videos of the female juveniles.
Several search warrants have been executed and legal processes have been put in place to maintain and secure the digital evidence. As of Tuesday, multiple females, mostly minors, have been identified on the accounts in question. The Boone County Attorney’s Office, Boone Police and the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation Cyber Crime Unit are working to identify each and every individual in the videos and photos.
Notification to the victims and their families has already begun. The Boone ACCESS Assault Care Center is providing victim services to those who may be affected by this incident. Additional charges could be forthcoming.
(Reporting by Pat Powers, KQWC, Webster City)