Highland Middle School teacher sends topless picture to students' iPads by accident

ANDERSON, Ind. - Some students at Highland Middle School in Anderson have been suspended after their teacher accidentally synced a topless picture of herself to a school-issued iPad.

Joshua Troutt, 13, said he and three other students were playing a game on the iPad in class when one of the students pressed a button and a photograph of the teacher's partially bare chest was revealed.

"It's not our fault that she had the photo on there," Troutt said. "We couldn't do anything not to look at it, if it just popped up when he pressed the button. It was her fault that she had the photo on there. Her iPhone synched to it. She had to have pressed something to make all of her photos synch on there."

Anderson police said Thursday that investigators determined that the picture was "from the neck down, with partial exposure."

"Since the material was not pornographic in nature and no other criminal violation could be gleaned from the evidence as presented, the matter was turned over to the school and the police investigation closed," Detective Joel Sandefur said in a statement.                

Assistant Superintendent Beth Clark acknowledged that the incident was an accident, and said the district's technology use policy was followed.

She said the students involved have been suspended and threatened with expulsion.

Troutt's mother said she doesn't believe that's fair.

"In all reality, you'd think (the teacher would) be fired. That's a nude picture in the school that the students saw," Nicole Troutt said. "(My son) didn't even touch the iPad. Another kid pulled up the picture on the iPad. He never touched it, period."

Clark said action has been taken against the teacher, but would not elaborate. She said the students' punishment will not be changed.

If parents disagree with it, they can appeal, Clark said.