Judge Tom

Dear Anon: First, nothing is deleted permanently for the most part. There most likely are ways to retrieve deleted messages but he may need an attorney and an IT guy if it gets to that point. Whether he could face consequences will depend on the laws in your state as well as the specific facts. If the girl ends up being a minor who lied about her age, he could be facing charges due to her age. It’s also possible that there could be consequences if the friend involved is a minor or complains to the police. You can click here to read more about the sexting laws in your state, but these are usually reserved for minors who sext each other. If the police get involved, they may contact him by phone or at his home to interview him and hear his side of the story. Otherwise, in cases where an investigation leads to enough evidence to file charges, a notice could be received in the mail to appear in court. If he never heard anything more from the girl, he may not need to worry. We hope this was a learning lesson for him as it’s never a good idea to sext with a stranger as you never know who is actually receiving the pics or messages. Good luck to your friend. (Check our Resource Directory for more help and resources in your area. This is information only – not legal advice.)