Police say three girls, one boy accused of taking inappropriate photos with school-issued iPads

WAUKESHA -- Waukesha police call it a growing issue: Students using school-issued equipment, like iPads, to take inappropriate photos.

The most recent case happened at Horning Middle School last Friday, September 25th.

Police reported students were using their school-issued iPads to take nude photos.

No charges have been filed, but police say this case involves three girls and one boy, who could be looking at felony charges.

"It could be child pornography, using a computer to facilitate a sex act -- depending on how they are sharing that photo," Waukesha Police Sgt. Jerry Habanek said.

Police were called out to the school on Friday afternoon.

Horning Middle School in Waukesha

"About three to four students were involved in some sort of sharing of a photo from a school system iPad. Students are taking nude photos of themselves and sharing them with someone they trust," Sgt. Habanek said.

Police say there have been three other recent incidents in Waukesha -- two at Horning Middle School and one at Waukesha West High School.

"iPads are so common today," Sgt. Habanek said.

That's why police meet with parents at the beginning of each school year to warn about the inappropriate use of school equipment and family electronics.

"What I tell my kids is, 'look - if you take an image and you`re not sure if you should share it, think about if you`d  want me to see it.  If you want me to see it, it`s probably okay to share it.' Once they share that image, they can`t get it back.  And there`s going to be some 20 or 30-year-old guy in a basement somewhere looking at that," Sgt. Habanek said.

Police are not releasing any other details in this case until their investigation is complete.

UPDATE: As of Wednesday, September 30th, the Waukesha School District released a statement saying the image in question in this story was not taken during school hours or at Horning Middle School. Additionally, school officials say the image was not taken with a district-owned iPad. The photo in question apparently came from a student's cell phone.