WGAL News (PCCYFS Quoted): Lancaster County teens admit to creating child sexual abuse material of classmates

https://www.wgal.com/article/lancaster-county-teens-admit-creating-child-sexual-abuse-material/70728137

Updated: 11:17 PM EDT Mar 12, 2026

 Editorial Standards ⓘ

Austin Boley, Assignment Editor

Tasmin Mahfuz , Anchor

LANCASTER COUNTY, Pa. — Two 16-year-old boys from Lancaster Country Day School admitted in court to using artificial intelligence to create nude images of their classmates, leading to 59 felony counts of manufacturing child sexual abuse material, according to the state attorney general.

A parent of one of the victims expressed satisfaction with the court’s decision, saying, “We’re very happy with the results. We’re so thankful for the hard work of Detective Bair and the attorney general’s office.”

Timeline of events

The activity was first discovered in a chat room in November 2023, according to the Lancaster County District Attorney’s Office.

Multiple tips were reported to Lancaster Country Day School between then and June 2024, but the criminal investigation began after parents notified law enforcement.

In August 2024, Meredith Jorgenson from 8 On Your Side spoke to one of the victims, who expressed concern about the long-term impact of the images. “It’s a very like helpless feeling that these images are just out there to stay,” the student said. “I mean right now, I could be in college, I could be in my future job, and they could resurface, and they could ruin things for me, and that’s a very helpless feeling.”

In December 2024, the state legislature amended Title 18 crimes on sexual abuse of children to include AI child pornography, making it a third-degree felony.

In October 2025, state senators advanced a bill requiring those caring for children to report any child sexual abuse material to authorities, though it is still awaiting a vote in the House.

Last month, Gov. Josh Shapiro’s proposed budget included AI protections for children.

“Let’s require age verification and parental consent,” Shapiro said, “because some kids are just too young to understand the difference between AI and a real person.”

Concerns over funding for children’s service providers

Despite bipartisan support for these measures, the Pennsylvania Council of Children, Youth and Family Services raised concerns, stating that the budget fails to invest in funding for children’s service providers.

Terry Clark, CEO of the council, said, “His budget fails to invest in funding that affords children’s service providers the ability to operate and deliver the quality of services that we know Pennsylvanians deserve. If the governor truly wants to address child safety, then more than just focusing on artificial intelligence is needed.”

Because the boys admitted to the crime, the victims did not have to see the manipulated pictures of themselves in court.

Court date set

The teens’ deposition sentencing in juvenile court is set for March 25.