Teen avoids felony for Snapchat school prank

Student posted locker room video

PORT WASHINGTON - A high school senior who faced a possible felony conviction after he Snapchatted video of a locker room prank to the whole school last year can now graduate to a future free of such a hurdle.

His story becomes another cautionary tale about the potential dangers that accompany the impulse to share every one of life’s funny moments on social media, where not everyone will always find humor.

Tanner Meinel, 18, had been charged with capturing an image of nudity in a locker room, of a person under 18, until his lawyers worked out a better resolution to the case. Meinel pleaded guilty Thursday to unlawful use of an electronic communications system, a misdemeanor.

Ozaukee County Circuit Judge Joseph Voiland withheld conviction and agreed to expunge the record if Meinel successfully completes six months of probation and does 25 hours of community service.

“I learned a lot from this,” Meinel told the judge. “I’m sorry this happened, and it will never happen again.”

In November, Meinel had taken video of a 16-year-old boy as he tried to retrieve his underwear from atop a speaker box where some other kids had thrown the garment. The boy’s naked buttocks were visible in the video, which Meinel posted in a way that any Port Washington High School student on Snapchat would see.

One student who saw it told an administrator. Meinel admitted to the prank. Police were called. Though the victim initially said he felt humiliated and embarrassed by the incident, he later told a victim/witness coordinator that Meinel had apologized, they were still friends and he was worried what would happen to Meinel.

Well before Thursday, Meinel already suffered other consequences, including a five-day school suspension, suspension from five wrestling meets and no cellphone use while out on bail.

Ozaukee County District At-

torney Adam Gerol said after the hearing that there had been a request for prosecution, and the original felony was the only crime that fit the facts.

He and defense attorney Matthew Last actually had to convince Voiland there was a basis for the amended charge since it mentioned “threat of physical injury,” that was no way a part of what happened.

He told Meinel, who along

with the lawyers seemed caught off guard, “Someday, it might matter to you if someone wanted to know if you were threatening to physically harm someone.”

Gerol agreed to amend the charge again, citing a different subsection of the statute that mentions a sent message that “uses any obscene, lewd or profane language or suggests any lewd or lascivious act.”

Gerol and Last agreed on the recommended sentence that Voiland adopted. He said while Meinel has no prior record and has been remorseful, “This was wrong. I know it’s a problem, people

playing fast and loose with cellphones, and it’s worse what some adults do.”

Last reminded the judge Meinel was only 17 at the time, “and didn’t understand the gravity, the drastic ramifications” the prank could have.

He said the family was satisfied with the outcome, which allows Meinel “to have options going forward,” but suggested authorities be more proactive.

“Maybe prosecutors should be going to schools and explaining just how serious the consequences” of some social media behavior can be, Last said.