Statutes: Guam

(a) A minor is guilty of an offense of Illegal Use of a Computer Telecommunications Device Involving a Minor, otherwise known as Sexting, if the minor, by use of a computer or any telecommunications device, recklessly or knowingly creates, receives, exchanges, sends, disseminates, transmits or possesses a photograph, video, depiction or other material that shows himself or herself, or of another minor, in a state of nudity.

(b) It is no defense to a charge under this Section that the minor creates, receives, exchanges, sends, or possesses a photograph, video, or other material that shows themselves in a state of nudity.

(c) Applicability. This Section shall not apply to the use of a computer or a telecommunications device to transmit or distribute a photograph or other depiction involving sexual intercourse, deviate sexual intercourse, sadism, masochism or masturbation. This Section does not prohibit a person guilty under this Section to be charged with other chargeable criminal sex offenses under Guam law.

(d) An offense under this Section constitutes a “status offense”. Any minor found to commit an offense under this Section shall be found guilty of illegal use of a telecommunications device involving a minor in a state of nudity, a delinquent act that would be a misdemeanor if it could be committed as an adult.

(e) A minor who violates this Section is guilty of a separate offense for each separate photograph, video, or other material that shows a minor in a state of nudity which is created, received, exchanged, sent, or possessed.

(f) Any minor who is convicted of a violation of this Section shall be ordered in addition to the sentence ordered by the Court, as part of his or her sentence, to participate in the educational program similar to that discussed under Subsection (g) of this Section.

(g) A juvenile or minor who commits the offense of Illegal Use of a Computer or Telecommunications Device to Disseminate Prohibited Materials Involving a Minor-Sexting, may be eligible for a diversionary program.

(1) As used herein, “eligible offense” means an offense chargeable under this Section where:

(A) the facts of the case involve the creation, exhibition or distribution without malicious intent of a photograph depicting nudity as defined in that section through the use of a telecommunications device or a computer; and

(B) the creator and subject of the photograph are juveniles or were juveniles at the time of its making.

(2) The Office of the Attorney General, Family Division, or whichever designated division of the Office of the Attorney General that addresses matters involving juveniles in the community of Guam, will incorporate such a diversionary program under its current services. Such diversionary program would be similar to or incorporated under the current Pre–Adjudicatory Diversionary Program that the Office of the Attorney General currently utilizes. The program would require the Office of the Attorney General to develop an educational program for juveniles who commit an eligible offense as defined in this Act. The Office of the Attorney General shall then consult with the Judiciary of Guam, Juvenile Probation Division, to discuss and implement such educational program, to include the same or similar conditions as the current Pre–Adjudicatory Diversionary Program in place between the Office of the Attorney General and Judiciary of Guam, Juvenile Probation Office. The Office of the Attorney General shall be the sole agency responsible for the determination as to whether a minor may be admitted into the diversionary program. A juvenile who successfully completes the program would have the opportunity to avoid prosecution, and any records relating to such an offense, upon completion of the program, would be dismissed and expunged.

(3) Admission to the program shall be limited to juveniles who:

(A) have not previously been adjudicated delinquent for or convicted of a criminal offense under Title 9 of the Guam Code Annotated that constitutes a third degree felony or greater;

(B) were not aware that their actions could constitute and did not have the intent to commit a criminal offense;

(C) may be harmed by the imposition of criminal sanctions; and

(D) would likely be deterred from engaging in similar conduct in the future by completing the program.

(4) The educational program shall provide information concernmg:

(A) the legal consequences of and penalties for sharing sexually suggestive or explicit materials, including applicable local and federal statutes;

(B) the non-legal consequences of sharing sexually suggestive or explicit materials including, but not limited to, the effect on relationships, loss of educational and employment opportunities, and being barred or removed from school programs and extracurricular activities;

(C) how the unique characteristics of cyberspace and the Internet, including searchability, replicability, and an infinite audience, can produce long-term and unforeseen consequences for sharing sexually suggestive or explicit materials; and

(D) the connection between bullying and cyberbullying and juveniles sharing sexually suggestive or explicit materials.

(5) The Attorney General may promulgate guidelines to effectuate the provisions of this Section.