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Investigation Ongoing In Alleged Photo Scandal At Montgomery County High School

By Walt Hunter

LANSDALE, Pa. (CBS) -- A planned walk-out by North Penn High School students to demand action on a sexting investigation at their school did not materialize at mid-morning.

Fewer than half a dozen actually left the school, most remaining inside to meet with the principal in the auditorium where they had been invited by him in a video invitation posted on YouTube.

In his online message, Principal Burt Hynes told the students, "Understand that investigations such as these take time to be completed and there will be no instant answers to questions we may have."

"It's certainly a serious matter. We want our parents to talk with their sons and daughters about this, so they can learn from this," North Penn Superintendent Dr. Curt Dietrich told Eyewitness News.

Dietrich and other administrators met face to face with students to hear their concerns Monday during an assembly.

"It was very beneficial to us and I think beneficial to the students also," Dietrich said.

Outside the school, a male student who did walk-out told CBS 3's Walt Hunter, "At least we know we are standing up. This is wrong."

Other students told Hunter that sexting was popular among some students at the school, inappropriate pictures of young women being passed around online "like Pokeman cards."

"This is devastating," District Attorney Risa Vetri Ferman commented. "I cant imagine how violated they must feel."

The DA adding that because the investigation is ongoing, she doesn't yet know if charges will be filed, but she cautions if they are they could be very serious.

CBS 3 Eyewitness News Reporter David Spunt contributed to this report.

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