Cell phone photo lands 12-year-old Channelview ISD student in serious trouble

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- A 12-year-old is accused of a crime because of what she did with her cell phone at school. Her story is a reminder of how because of our quickly changing technology, you may be breaking the law without even realizing it.

The 12-year-old Channelview ISD student's attorney says she was using her iPhone to take a picture of herself and a friend, but the phone has two camera lenses and she accidentally selected the wrong one. As a result, she snapped a picture of what could be percieved as a very racy picture of another young girl.

"They were telling me that I can get in a bunch of trouble for taking a picture like that, and I told them that it was an accident and they were like, 'no, you're lying,'" said the girl, who we're not identifying.

She was pulled out of class Friday at Alice Johnson Junior High, handcuffed, put into a patrol car and taken into custody all because of an incident Thursday at the school in the locker room. Her attorney says she was trying to snap a picture of herself and friends when she mistakenly took one out of her iPhone's forward-facing lens -- a picture of another student not fully clothed.

"She was just pulling down her pants, but not all the way -- barely," she told us.

The 12-year-old says she immediately realized her mistake and deleted the picture, even showing the girl who was in that alleged picture as she did.

But on Friday, she was arrested for taking it.

Lawyer Jack Carroll says the law protects the content that's on your phone. He says the Constitution was violated when investigators took the girl's phone to look for the picture.

"It's like having a government official or a police officer look through your diary. You can't do that without consent or a search warrant," he said.

But KTRK legal analyst Joel Androphy doesn't agree, saying the law is different because this occurred on school grounds.

"Like when you enter the airport you give up many of your constitutional rights; when you go into school you give up many of your constitutional rights in regards to search and seizure," Androphy said.

"They couldn't find nothing, but they're still saying that I did it," the 12-year-old said.

The girl just wants to go back to school. She's been suspended for three days and is being sent to an alternative school for another 30 days. She and her parents are appealing that assignment to alternative school.

We should note that investigators could not comment in any detail on this case because juveniles are involved.

Channelview ISD did not return our repeated calls for comment.

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Spring woman accused of trying to pin blame for serious car accident on ex-husband

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- A Spring woman is accused of attempting to pin a serious car accident on her ex-husband who was actually working at the time.

According to court documents, on March 8 a driver was seriously injured when a dark colored Ford F-150 struck her vehicle in the 200 block of Cypresswood Dr. in north Harris County. The victim says the driver fled the scene without stopping.

Detectives say they found the license plate in the debris and traced it to a Matthew Wallace. Further investigation revealed that the license had been canceled and a new plate had been issued on March 23, and that the vehicle was involved in another accident on April 22.

Court documents state investigators went to the address listed with the new license plate and observed a Ford F-150 bearing the new plate with front-end damage consistent with the Cypresswood crash.

Investigators interviewed the complainant in both reports, Brenna Nicole Wallace. They say she told them that she drove the truck to a night club where she met her ex-husband, Matthew Wallace, and that they were both intoxicated and left the club in her truck. According to investigators, Brenna Wallace said Matthew Wallace was the driver of the vehicle that night and that he was involved in the accident. They say she admitted to getting new license plates for the truck after the accident.

Court records show that investigators interviewed Matthew Wallace who provided copies of work time sheets that show he was working at the time of the accident. He also provided a copy of his divorce decree which awarded the truck to Brenna Wallace. Investigators say Matthew Wallace showed them a picture that Brenna Wallace texted to him the day of the accident saying she was involved in an accident and showing the damage, and asking him for advice.

Brenna Wallace, 31, is charged with failure to stop and render aid. Bond has been set at $5,000.

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One driver injured in serious accident on Beltway 8

One driver suffered injuries in a two-vehicle accident on the Beltway this morning. (ABC-13 viewer)

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- At least one person was injured in a serious accident in west Houston this morning.

The accident happened after 5am on Beltway 8 and Hammerly. At least two vehicles were involved in the wreck. One of the drivers reportedly fell asleep at the wheel but authorities haven't confirmed that information.

One driver was injured and was transported to the hospital. No word on the injuries.

At one point three northbound lanes were shut due to the police investigation but all lanes have since reopened.

Check real-time traffic information in our ABC13.com traffic section

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Two injured in serious accident in NW Houston

A major accident in northwest Harris County leaves two injured.

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- A man had to be taken by Life Flight after an accident in northwest Houston overnight.

Around midnight, a flatbed wrecker driver was responding to a crash scene at the intersection of of Fallbrook at the Sam Houston Parkway when a car slammed into its side. The impact was so hard it lifted the wrecker in the air, causing it to crash into a traffic light pole.

Crews had to use rescue jaws to pry out the two men inside the car. One man was transported by Life Flight in serious condition. The other is listed as stable.

Investigators are trying to determine who was at fault. Both drivers say they had the green light.

(Copyright ©2012 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.) Get more Local »

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Two off-duty officers involved in serious wreck

  PEARLAND, TX (KTRK) -- Two off-duty Houston police officers were involved in a serious accident in Pearland Friday morning.

According to Pearland police, at approximately 7:25am, a Chevy Trailblazer was traveling eastbound on John Lizer when, according to witnesses, the vehicle ran a red light and struck a white Ford truck that was heading northbound at the Pearland Parkway. The impact flipped the northbound truck and caused the Trailblazer to spin in the intersection, according to police.

Authorities said a child inside the Trailblazer was taken to Texas Children's Hospital with minor injuries.

The truck was occupied by an off-duty HPD officer. During the accident, a third vehicle occupied by another HPD officer was also struck and sustained minor body damage.

Authorities said the off-duty officers were not hurt.

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