there s nothing fair about this. reporter: when sarah sim s 9-year-old daughter told her she was being bullied at school, sims tried to get her help. she called and e-mailed the administrators at ocean view elementary school in norfolk, virginia. no one answered, but she kept trying. if i m not getting an answer from you, then what am i left to do. reporter: determined to get proof that the bullying was happening, sims took matters into her own hands. she sent her daughter to school with a digital audio recorder in her backpack. in the classroom it was constantly running at her daughter s desk recording the school day. school officials found out about it, confiscated the device and called police who questioned the 9-year-old. sims says the school never called her. one month later, the virginia mother learned she was in trouble with the law. next thing i know i m a felon. i ve got felony charges and a misdemeanor when i m trying to look out for my kid.