4 Illinois teens charged with child pornography after group sex video posted to Twitter

JOLIET, Ill. -- Four Illinois teenagers were charged with child pornography after a group sex video was posted to Twitter.

Three males and one female were arrested after the girl's mother saw the video and called police. All four teens, between the ages of 14 and 16, attend Joliet Central High School in Joliet, Illinois.

The sex was consensual, according to the Joliet police chief, but distributing it online is considered child pornography.

"The child pornography offense that was charged is in place for a reason, because we don't want to accept that type of behavior as a society," said Joliet Police Chief Brian Benton. "So I think it's making a strong statement and I think it's important to do so to send a message to others that kids shouldn't be involved in this type of behavior, and hopefully this will serve as a deterrent."

Chief Benton said all four teens admitted to being willing participants. Regardless, they are under the age of consent and posting a video of children engaged in sexual acts online is a crime.

The teenagers were arrested on Friday and appeared in court Monday. They're being held at the River Valley Juvenile Detention Center until their next court date on April 13. Possible punishments range from probation to juvenile detention until they turn 21 years old.