Webcam Spying Pennsylvania High School Avoids Federal Charges
Federal officials Tuesday said there would be no charges filed in connection with the Lower Merion webcam case.
“After a thorough review of the evidence in this matter by my office, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office, the Montgomery County Detectives, and the Lower Merion Police Department, I have concluded that bringing criminal charges is not warranted in this matter,” United States Attorney Zane David Memeger said in a statement.
In February a Harriton High School student, Blake Robbins filed suit against Lower Merion claiming the district spied on him. The district admitted that it had software that could remotely activate the webcams on the student-issued laptop computers. Federal officials launched an investigation shortly after the suit was filed in February.
According to Memeger, there is no evidence that anyone at the district acted with criminal intent. “For the government to prosecute a criminal case, it must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the person charged acted with criminal intent. We have not found evidence that would establish beyond a reasonable doubt that anyone involved had criminal intent. I understand that the civil litigation continues. I chose to make this announcement before the beginning of the school year to close at least one part of this matter.”