A mother accused of taking lewd pictures of her 8-year-old daughter avoided a trial by signing an agreement Tuesday to undergo counseling.
Cynthia Stewart also acknowledged that two photos she surrendered to prosecutors could be interpreted as sexually oriented, even though she did not intend them to be that way, said Lorain County Prosecutor Gregory White.
Stewart, 48, and her supporters, including the American Civil Liberties Union, said the pictures were an artistic documentation of the girl’s life.
White said all charges against Stewart would be dropped as long as she complies with the agreement, which was filed in Lorain County Common Pleas Court.
Court papers said she must complete at least six months of counseling on adolescent sexuality and demonstrate an understanding of what constitutes sexually oriented material.
Stewart could have faced as much as 16 years in prison if convicted of illegal use of a child in nudity-oriented material and pandering sexually oriented material.
White said he will request a court order to destroy the two pictures, which a grand jury had determined were offensive. Other photos were returned to her.
