Posted on 02/19/2014 8:02:13 AM PST by Colonel_Flagg
Boasts about sexual conquests on a now-deleted Web page could trigger felony charges against a popular Rogers High School student athlete and others, the latest twist in a swirl of accusations, comments and protest involving social media.
The furor in the Elk River Area School District on Tuesday transcended the dispute over a controversial tweet by the student and exposed the sexually explicit and often vicious exchanges that fill popular online pages created by students at many Minnesota schools. The anonymous posts include bragging messages, accusations and insults directed at students, teachers and others.
Rogers Police Chief Jeff Beahen said the “Rogers Confessions” page on ask.fm attracted many such “sexually charged” submissions. Some referred to a physical education teacher at the high school who was also the target of a Twitter exchange several days ago that led to a more-than-two-month suspension of senior Reid Sagehorn. Sagehorn, the 17-year-old captain of the school’s football and basketball teams, is accused of tweeting, apparently sarcastically, that he “actually, yes” was in an improper relationship with her. “It’s like screaming ‘Fire!’ in a crowded theater or ‘I have a bomb’ on an airplane,” Beahen said Tuesday of the possible felony charges, not long after supporters of Sagehorn held a protest outside the school. “If you say something on a very public forum, there are consequences. This young, innocent teacher is the victim here.”
(Excerpt) Read more at startribune.com ...
"Social media use at heart of controversy and protest at Rogers High School"
Sagehorn has been suspended for ten weeks and now faces the prospect of a felony charge. Clearly he made a tremendous error but it appears to me that the lesson here is to be very careful what you say in social media.
“the lesson here is to be very careful what you say in social media”
D’oh.
What is being done to this kid is insane. To charge him with a felony is unconscionable.
Indeed. I see it all the time on Twitter. People just don’t think. This young man sounds like a good kid, he’s evidently in NHS as well, but he’s paying a real price for this.
You have to be really stupid to jeopardize your future doing something like this. You will never erase things you post.
To make a felony charge stick, I think they have to show malicious intent, from what I have read. In any event, a felony charge is too much in my view.
It just takes one moment. This was his.
she should sue him as well...
that is, if its all a lie...
Contrary to when I wuz growing up, there really is a permanent record on everyone these days.
we’re going to need some pics here....
The teacher in question had nothing to do with any of this and is now being bullied and harassed like she is the bad guy.
He reputation was damaged and career may be affected. A defamation lawsuit is a distinct and appropriate possibility.
Up to now Reid has portrayed himself as the victim in this. Hardly the right attitude. I don't see how he can undo this.
He is accused of posting the word “yes”.
But it shouldn't be. If your "moment" is shooting someone over a traffic dispute that is one thing but this kid wrote a stupid 2 word sentence that carried no malicious intent and could have been diffused with a 5 minute coversation. The life ruining momnent should belong to the administrators who expeled this child and the DA threatening to prosecute.
He is a victim. Totally.
STAY OFF SOCIAL MEDIA.
Can’t say it enough.
Talk to your friends in person or email carefully but stay off social media.
He is no gentleman.
My mom used to say “where there’s smoke there’s fire”
I don’t believe Sagehorn has said anything publicly regarding this, though I could be wrong. I know the students at the school are supporting him.
The issue for me is that some people take sarcasm for granted in certain contexts in social media. Clearly, that isn’t the case, nor should it be. And you’re quite right, he is reaping the whirlwind.
Nonsense. He is a great kid off to a great start. To ruin his entire life over this is worse than farce.
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