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DENVER — Sexting thrust Colorado into the national spotlight last year.

Cañon City High School reported that hundreds of students were caught sexting each other through various social media apps.

No charges were filed as the Fremont County District Attorney determined the punishment would be too severe for the teenagers and have lifelong effects.

Now some lawmakers in the General Assembly want sexting laws to change.

Republican State Rep. Yeulin Willett and Democratic State Rep. Rhonda Fields have introduced HB 1058, which would make sending a nude picture of yourself or someone else a misdemeanor for juveniles in the state.

“It made sense that we needed a change,” Willett said. “The main thing the bill does is give the DAs an option other than a felony.”

Willett, a former attorney, said too often prosecutors do not pursue charges because the punishment does not fit the crime.

If a prosecutor wanted to go after a teen for sexting, they would have to charge him or her with a felony, which means the teen could go to jail and be required to register as a sex offender.

“At some point, when you see the prevalence of this, a new law is in order,” Willett said.

The law would still allow prosecutors to charge teens with a felony if the sexting was egregious. HB 1058 also states the sender and receiver of the nude picture must be within four years of age of each other.

As far as teenagers, some support the law, while others are worried their friends could end up in court.

“I just know that it happens a lot more than people think,” said Alex Horton, a freshman at Metro State University of Denver.

“It would just put a lot of kids in trouble that weren’t trying to be in trouble,” said Courtney Wright, a sophomore at Metro.