Teen pleads guilty in cell phone sex case

SIOUX CITY, Iowa, Aug. 21 (UPI) -- A high school senior in Woodbury County, Iowa, pleaded guilty in relation to an accusation that he shared a cell phone video of himself half-naked.

The Des Moines (Iowa) Register said Thursday that 18-year-old Andy Dougherty pleaded guilty to a lesser charge in the sex crime case that was prompted by a 10-second cell phone video he took of himself while his pants were down.

The teenager then sent the video, which also featured his teenage girlfriend, to a 17-year-old friend. The video eventually spread throughout the area and came to the attention of Woodbury prosecutors.

Those prosecutors say this act means the teen is guilty of telephone dissemination of obscene material to a minor, a crime that carries a maximum two-year prison sentence.

Dougherty's father, Jim, told the Register while his son's plea will mean he won't be labeled a sex offender, the entire legal affair has proven especially costly to his family.

"It's destroying our family for what amounts to a high school prank," the father, whose family has spent $50,000 on Dougherty's defense, said.