Yes, he should face consequences the same way any child should face consequence, by being grounded and shamed, maybe he loses his allowance and gets a suspension.
You don't charge kids as adults, period. They're stupid, they sometimes (often) don't think of the consequences. They deserve more chances.
In terms of paying for damages, you are correct. Sending them to jail though...
Kids are kids until 18 because people mature at different rates. At 18 it is safe to assume most have matured enough. This kid could be 18 mentally, but he could also be 13 mentally.
Why are you trying emotional manipulation in order to justify punishing this one kid as if he was an adult?
Here, let me show you what you just did. Let me introduce you to Steve. His life was ruined because he made a deepfake of a girl he likes and sent it to his friend, but he shouldn't have trusted that friend, because the deepfake then found itself on every phone in class. Steve got a 3 year sentence, forcing early dropout, and due to his permanent mark, he would forever be grouped with rapists and could never find a job. He killed himself at 21. And you claim it's not that bad? The fuck is wrong with you?
His record should be expunged when he turns 18 because it was a crime he committed as a child. I understand their frustrations, but they're asking to jail a child over some photoshopped images.
Making a deepfake is definitely not a heavy crime that deserves jailtime or a permanent mark unless he was an adult doing it.
What part do you find suspicious? I can provide some links and screenshots.
You don't mature all at once, but you also cannot place general expectation of responsibility at certain ages either, such as when it is acceptable to babysit or drive. That is entirely dependent on the individual kids' upbringing.
Kids at 15 are not mature enough to do anything. That should be anyone's expectations of a child they don't know.
Heavy punishent will only put more kids in jail. It will not prevent kids from making irreversible mistakes, nor will it undo any of the damage. You just ruin one more life, because in the end, the people who most need to consider the consequences are the parents, and a lot of parents simply are not going to do this. So then what? Kids with shitty upbringings deserve no second chances? I believe they do.