Missouri task force urges internet harassment law following teen's suicide
11:20 a.m. Wednesday, January 9, 2008
A teen's suicide may lead to a new Missouri law.
13-year-old Megan Meier's suicide made national news after her parents came out saying an adult had harassed her on MySpace.com causing her to hang herself.
Now, a Missouri task force wants to make it a felony for adults to use the internet or other media to harass children.
No one was charged in Meier's death.
If the law is enacted, could carry a prison sentence of up to four years and a $5,000 fine.
Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Times reports a federal grand jury has supoenaed MySpace in a probe stemming from the suicide.
The Los Angeles Times reports that federal prosecutors are considering charging a woman in the girl's neighborhood with defrauding MySpace by creating a false account.
Prosecutors believe the woman, her daughter and a teenage employee fooled the St. Louis teen into thinking she was communicating with a 16-year-old boy.
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