NEWS: Terrible Woman's Myspace Alias Leads to Teen's Suicide.

IDGAS said:
Update: Today Lori Drew was indicted for "one count of conspiracy and three counts of accessing a computer without authorization and via interstate commerce to obtain information to inflict emotional distress. Each count carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison." (source)

IDGAS said:
Update: Today Lori Drew was indicted for "one count of conspiracy and three counts of accessing a computer without authorization and via interstate commerce to obtain information to inflict emotional distress. Each count carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison." (source)

IDGAS said:
Update: Today Lori Drew was indicted for "one count of conspiracy and three counts of accessing a computer without authorization and via interstate commerce to obtain information to inflict emotional distress. Each count carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison." (source)

punk said:
How does "accessing a computer without authorization and via interstate commerce to obtain information..." fit? She was down the street, and to my knowledge, never accessed the other family's computer.

Missouri law enforcement officials said they had not found enough evidence to bring charges in the case, and Ms. Drew, who was 48 when Megan died, has repeatedly denied creating the account.

But because MySpace, a unit of Fox Interactive Media, is based in Beverly Hills, Calif., and its server is here, federal prosecutors decided to wield a federal statute that is generally used to prosecute fraud that occurs across state lines.

The statute applies in the case, the indictment says, because by violating the user agreement of MySpace, which prohibits phony accounts, Ms. Drew was seeking information "to further a tortuous act, namely, intentional infliction of emotional distress."

"To my knowledge it is the first case of its kind in the nation," said Thomas P. O'Brien a United States attorney in California. "But when an adult violates terms on a MySpace account to gain information that creates this type of reaction, it caused this office to take a really hard look."

Calls to Megan's parents, Tina and Ron Meier, were not returned Thursday. Mr. Meier told The St. Louis Post-Dispatch: "It's a good day. It's an awesome feeling."

Ms. Drew's lawyer, H. Dean Steward, said: "I am deeply disappointed. We thought when the St. Louis prosecutors took a look at the case and decided not to bring charges that was the end of it. I don't think the statute they used fits the facts in the indictments."

Ms. Drew is scheduled to be arraigned in Los Angeles in June.

Experts were skeptical that the charges would withstand close legal scrutiny.

"It is an extremely aggressive indictment," said Rebecca Lonergan, a law professor at the University of Southern California and a former federal prosecutor. "I have never in 18 years as a prosecutor seen the statute used that way. Cybercrimes is a relatively new area, but I am not sure this statute technically covers the essence of the harm."

Officials at MySpace said in a written statement, "MySpace does not tolerate cyberbullying and is cooperating fully with the U.S. attorney in this matter."

Various state and local governments have passed or introduced laws that prohibit cyberbullying, often through requirements that school districts have cyberbullying policies.

"I have concerns about the term 'cyberbullying' being applied to this situation," said Nancy Willard, executive director of the Center for Safe and Responsible Internet Use. "Cyberbullying usually occurs between peers. It is not this kind of action."

Ms. Willard, who is also a former lawyer, said she also had doubts about the prosecutor's tactics. "I, like everyone else, would like to see Lori Drew see her comeuppance," she said, "but I have some concerns. I don't think the statute was written to apply to this case."

Rydell said:
My God..this world is going to hell in a hand basket!! How is a teen now a days suppose to come out half sane with parents like that and that goes for both teens involved!!

Im feel so sorry for teens growing up now....I thought teens were mean in my junior high...that is nothing...sad!!

Subrosa said:
Also, remember that it's an indictment, and the old lawyer's saying is that if the prosecution wants to, it can indict a ham sandwich. Doesn't mean it's going to go anywhere.

Clidna said:

Girls attempt it more though, at a rate of 3:1.

A Missouri woman accused of posing as a teenage boy on the Internet and harassing a 13-year-old girl who later committed suicide, pleaded not guilty in a federal court here Monday morning to charges of Internet fraud and conspiracy to inflict emotional distress.

In May, a grand jury indicted the woman, Lori Drew, 49, under the federal Computer Fraud and Abuse Act, used in cases in which hackers gain access to information stored on protected computers. It is the first time that statute will be used in a social networking case, according to the United States attorney for Los Angeles, Thomas P. O'Brien.

[...]

Magistrate Abrams set bail for Ms. Drew at $20,000 bail. She was allowed to return to Missouri until trial, which was scheduled for June 29, said Mark Krause, the assistant United States attorney.

XvVectorvX said:
Okay, I understand that what the lady did was horrible...but she should not be to blame.

The only people to be blamed are the parents. I was in a very similar situation as a child (strangely enough, I was 13). I had planned to kill myself. I had everything set in place so that it would happen when no on could intervene. However, my mother felt there was something up. She confronted me about it, and I wouldn't talk. I was ready to die...really ready to die. She wouldn't take no for an answer, and promptly rushed me to my psychiatrists personal residence. I don't remember the exact words the psychiatrist said, but whatever it was, it broke me down. I had a nervous break down and cried for 7 or 8 hours. I cried myself to sleep at the psychiatrists house. I woke up and was asked if I would like to go to a place where they could help me to understand my feelings better. Having just poured all of my being out to my mother and my psychiatrist, I agreed. Had it not been for the treatment that was then administered, I can promise you that I would be worm meat right now. It is because of those acts that i am who i am now today. Someone who can cope with stress, who has a clear sense of what all of my feelings are, and understands how to control my thought process. By the way, my mom is a horrible parent, but she knew something was up and acted accordingly.

So, the only person to blame is the mother. Without a damn doubt she is to blame. If anyone is to be indicted, it should be her for negligence. The other lady may go down for this, but the mother will eternally live in the most horrid of places, her own damn mind that stupid bitch.