Man faces jail for editing video to make it appear children were listening to dirty song

A young man is facing a felony charge, accused of putting innocent images of first graders into a sexually-themed video. 21-year-old Evan Emory is accused of manufacturing child sexually abusive material. The charge stems from a video Emory edited, making it appear that he's singing an explicit song to young children. Now, parents are outraged that video of their children showed up on YouTube and as part of a live comedy act.

Parents learned on Wednesday that the video was first shown on Valentines Day while Emory was performing at a comedy club in town. It was also posted to the internet. Emory visited a first grade classroom in Ravenna to shoot the clean version of the video in front of the kids, but he made it into something more through editing. Emory admits he made the video, but never imagined what he considered comedy, would result in a felony charge and cause an uproar among parents. It was back in January when Emory got permission from a teacher he knew at Ravenna's Beechnau Elementary to perform a fun, innocent, song in front of 24 first graders.


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“Asked if he could come in, tape a song to use for his portfolio to use to get into a Big Ten school,” said Ravenna Public School Superintendent John Vanloon. The kids were videotaped listening to a reacting to the lighthearted Lunch Lady Song. “The teacher was present at all times, nothing inappropriate, no part sexually explicit,” said Vanloon. However, prosecutors say that once the classroom cleared out, and unbeknownst to the school, Emory and a friend videotaped an entirely different song, one filled with sexual references.

Through editing, Emory made it appear that the kids were listening to the dirty song. Emory then put the video on the internet. Emory's attorney says his client is a creative and talented kid, and had no criminal thought in mind when he produced the video. “He didn't think it through,” said defense attorney Terry Nolan. “He feels horrible for the families, he just didn't think it through when he did this.” Emory was released on a $5,000 surety bond. He was ordered not to have contact with children. Emory also agreed not to go to any open mic nights while the case is underway. According to his attorney, Emory could face 15 to 20 years in jail if convicted.