5-year-olds investigated for kissing

DENVER, March 6 (UPI) -- Denver officials said school sexual harassment reports are getting ridiculous, after two 5-year-olds were reported to child-welfare officials for kissing.

City Councilman Doug Linkhart, chairman of the City Council Safety Committee, said after a Wednesday meeting of the panel that the report to child welfare of two 5-year-olds kissing on a school playground was a sign that Denver Public Schools employees are reporting frivolous cases, the Rocky Mountain News reported Thursday.

"It's just getting to the point of ridiculousness where we're prosecuting kids for kissing," he said.

The Denver Post reported a 6-year-old boy was recently investigated by police and social service workers after he told a girl of the same age that she had "a sexy booty."

The incidents follow a recommendation from prosecutors that teachers be more vigilant in reporting sexual harassment in schools, after Principal Nicole Veltze of Skinner Middle School was prosecuted for failing to report a sexual harassment claim.

Roxane White, the manager of the Denver Department Human Services, said referrals from the school system jumped 55 percent from January to February.