Local Virginia police have abandoned plans to photograph a 17-year-old boy's erection in connection with his felony prosecution for child pornography after he allegedly sexted his 15-year old girlfriend. The decision was made yesterday following a global outcry.

The brouhaha began earlier this week when Prince William County prosecutors obtained a search warrant from a juvenile court judge allowing them to photograph the boy's erection for evidentiary reasons (apparently to compare the photo with a video sent to the girlfriend's phone). The story, which included details that the authorities would chemically induce an erection in the boy, went viral.

In response, the Manassas City police department—which is investigating the case—said Thursday that it would let the search warrant expire.

In a statement, the department said, "It is not the policy of the Manassas City Police or the Commonwealth Attorney’s Office to authorize invasive search procedures of suspects in cases of this nature and no such procedures have been conducted in this case."

If found guilty, the teen could be jailed until his 21st birthday and be forced to register as a sex offender.

The authorities said the boy was charged after his girlfriend's parents notified police. The police said the girl's parent's "repeatedly" asked the boy "to stop."

A court hearing is scheduled for next week.

The boy's guardian ad litem told NBC that the plan to photograph him was "effectively child abuse." What's more, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) said the move might have been unconstitutional. "People have a constitutional right to control their bodies," said Rebecca Glenberg, the legal director of the ACLU office in Virginia.

Manassas City Manager Patrick Pate said the town has been bombarded with angry calls from across the US—and the world—about the case.