Indictment in MySpace Hoax Case Defines Legal Stand Against Cyber Bullying
Will Spencer
June 02, 2008
Lori Drew was recently indicted for three counts of accessing protected computers to harass a juvenile along with one count of conspiracy. This continues an almost two-year legal battle related to the suicide of 13-year-old Megan Meier. The girl hung herself after receiving insults and hateful messages from the MySpace profile of a user named "Josh Evans". The 13-year-old was receiving treatment for attention deficit disorder and depression at the time of her death.
Drew, a 49-year-old woman from Missouri, created the MySpace account Josh Evans. She created the account with unnamed conspirators. The account was created to allegedly get back at Meier for breaking off a friendship with Drew´s daughter. A picture of an unknown boy was used.
Meier began receiving messages from Josh Evans in September of 2006. "Evans" was portrayed as a 16-year-old home-schooled boy who lived near the girl. The two began to have an online relationship. This ended in October of the same year when the "boy" began sending hostile messages. The final message sent to Megan from the "Evans" profile told the girl that the "world would be better" without her.
Drew´s conspirators are believed to be her 13-year old daughter and a 19-year-old employee named Ashley Grills. Neither of the two was named in the federal case. Drew admitted creating the "Josh Evans" account to find out what Meier was saying about her daughter. Drew´s daughter was good friends with Meier until the latter moved to a different school.
The Meier's only learned of Drew´s involvement weeks after Megan´s death. A neighbor came to the family with information that Lori Drew revealed to her. The Drew's spoke to the family afterwards to apologize. The Meier's insisted that Drew was aware of Megan´s mental condition. Megan was taking medication during the time she had a friendship with Drew´s daughter.
Initial findings found no evidence for a legal case because of the suicide. The suit was filed later on the grounds that Drew violated MySpace´s terms of agreement. Users of MySpace agree not to use false personal information, bully or harass other users, and not to harass minors. MySpace was named as an injured party in the federal case.
Another basis for the case is the standing law against accessing information through a protected computer. In the past, the law has been used against hackers and trademark violators. This is the first instance that the case has been used to prosecute a Cyber Bullying incident.
20 years is the maximum sentence for all counts. Drew´s attorney is seeking an appeal.
Parents are encouraged to follow the MySpace Safety Tips from The Tech FAQ in order to ensure the safety of their children when accessing the MySpace service.
Drew, a 49-year-old woman from Missouri, created the MySpace account Josh Evans. She created the account with unnamed conspirators. The account was created to allegedly get back at Meier for breaking off a friendship with Drew´s daughter. A picture of an unknown boy was used.
Meier began receiving messages from Josh Evans in September of 2006. "Evans" was portrayed as a 16-year-old home-schooled boy who lived near the girl. The two began to have an online relationship. This ended in October of the same year when the "boy" began sending hostile messages. The final message sent to Megan from the "Evans" profile told the girl that the "world would be better" without her.
Drew´s conspirators are believed to be her 13-year old daughter and a 19-year-old employee named Ashley Grills. Neither of the two was named in the federal case. Drew admitted creating the "Josh Evans" account to find out what Meier was saying about her daughter. Drew´s daughter was good friends with Meier until the latter moved to a different school.
The Meier's only learned of Drew´s involvement weeks after Megan´s death. A neighbor came to the family with information that Lori Drew revealed to her. The Drew's spoke to the family afterwards to apologize. The Meier's insisted that Drew was aware of Megan´s mental condition. Megan was taking medication during the time she had a friendship with Drew´s daughter.
Initial findings found no evidence for a legal case because of the suicide. The suit was filed later on the grounds that Drew violated MySpace´s terms of agreement. Users of MySpace agree not to use false personal information, bully or harass other users, and not to harass minors. MySpace was named as an injured party in the federal case.
Another basis for the case is the standing law against accessing information through a protected computer. In the past, the law has been used against hackers and trademark violators. This is the first instance that the case has been used to prosecute a Cyber Bullying incident.
20 years is the maximum sentence for all counts. Drew´s attorney is seeking an appeal.
Parents are encouraged to follow the MySpace Safety Tips from The Tech FAQ in order to ensure the safety of their children when accessing the MySpace service.