While sexting itself is not illegal, it can quickly become a crime if the images involve anyone under the age of 18. In Michigan, making, distributing, and possessing sexually explicit photos of a minor fall under the category of child pornography, and a charge for sexting will be treated as such. Unfortunately, Michigan law has no specifications for minors who commit these acts.

The age of consent in Michigan is 16, but if your juvenile child had sexual intercourse with another minor, things can get a little tricky. Several states have created “Romeo and Juliet” exceptions for situations in which both parties in a sexual encounter are underage. In Michigan, these exceptions depend on the type of sexual encounter the teens had.

In rare cases when a serious accusation is at hand, a juvenile may be tried as an adult. Charges that call for this include more violent offenses that fall under first degree criminal sexual conduct. Convincing the court that your child’s case should stay in the juvenile system is another responsibility for your defense team.