Jan. 31--A Fremd High School senior has been charged with a misdemeanor for allegedly sending an email containing "an offensive nude image" to thousands of students in Palatine earlier this week, authorities said.
Alec Kuznitsky, 18, of Schaumburg was arrested Friday and charged with misdemeanor disorderly conduct, according to a press release from Palatine police.
Police were called to investigate after an email containing what was described as a "graphic and offensive" image arrived Tuesday evening in the school email accounts of students at Palatine and William Fremd high schools, which have about 5,400 students total.
Kuznitsky, a senior at Fremd, told a school staff member Friday that he had sent the email, police said. Police interviewed him to confirm that he was "solely responsible" for the incident, according to the press release.
He was released on his own recognizance and is due in court March 10.
Township High School District 211 Superintendent Daniel Cates said in a statement posted on the district website Thursday that the explicit email contained "an offensive nude image," and it was reported to police because it was sent to minors.
The email itself did not contain threatening or alarming language nor did it imply any school affiliation. The district's technology department workers had tried to remove the email directly from the student accounts but were not able to do so, officials said.
The two high schools were notified of the email Wednesday morning by a teacher, and parents were later notified of the situation by email.
Police and school officials could not be reached for comment Friday evening. Officials had previously said that distributing and offensive image to minors can be a felony charge.
sho@tribune.com
