Sexting Lands Teen on Florida’s Sex Offender Registry

A Florida teen is marked a sexual offender after he sent semi-nude photos of his then girlfriend to more than a dozen people from his cell phone.

“You will find me on the registered sex offender list next to people who have raped children, molested kids, things like that, because I sent child pornography,” says Alpert.

Now, Phillip Alpert is sentenced to five-years probation, and will be listed on the Sunshine State’s sexual offender registry until he’s 43-years-old.

Alpert was dating the victim at the center of the case for about two-and-a-half years just before an argument between the high school sweethearts lead him to commit what’s now known as ‘sexting.’

“It was a stupid thing I did because I was upset and tired and it was the middle of the night and I was an immature kid,” says Alpert.

What Alpert didn’t know at that time was that he was breaking the law. And that’s exactly why Alpert’s attorney Larry Walters is now fighting to remove his teen client from Florida’s sex offender registry.

“Sexting is treated as child pornography in almost every state and it catches teens completely off guard because this is a fairly natural and normal thing for them to do. It is surprising to us as parents, but for teens it’s part of their culture,” says Walters.

According to a recent study, one in five teens admit to sexting despite knowing whether or not it is a crime.

Now the King of Hollywood wants to know what you think. Tell us where you stand on the penalties people face for sexting.