Seal Beach Police Send Case of Teen Sex Tape to D.A.

Police Thursday referred for prosecution the case of a 17-year-old Los Alamitos High School student who allegedly videotaped himself having sex with a 14-year-old girl.

Det. Bob Mullins said he referred the case to the district attorney’s office after concluding that the high school athlete likely violated a wiretapping statute and child pornography laws.

Investigators had been reviewing the case since May 3, when the girl’s parents brought a copy of the tape to police. The incident allegedly took place Feb. 28 at the boy’s home, and at least four parents contended the teen had shown the video to their children at school on a small display screen attached to a camcorder.

School officials are conducting their own investigation. The names of the teenagers are being withheld because of their ages.

Mullins said the girl told police the sex was consensual but she was unaware she was being taped. After reviewing the case, Mullins said it appears the boy violated a wiretapping statute that bans the recording of private communications without consent. The teen also likely violated a statute prohibiting the “production of obscene material depicting minors engaging in sexual activity,” Mullins said.

A spokeswoman for the district attorney’s office said late Thursday that the case had not yet been assigned to a deputy district attorney and that it probably would be several days before prosecutors decide whether to file charges.