A suburban mother was found guilty today of lesser misdemeanor charges for her role in an online hoax that prosecutors said led to the suicide of her teenage neighbor.
Drew’s lawyers and outside legal experts have argued that the unusual prosecution could broaden the scope of what’s considered criminal conduct on the Internet. Drew was charged for violating the MySpace terms of service, a set of rules that many users probably do not read. According to prosecutors, for several years the Meiers and the Drews were friendly. Both families had girls the same age who attended school together, and they had gone on family trips together.
Megan’s mother, Tina Meier, told jurors that her daughter was taking medication for attention deficit disorder and depression, and that she struggled with low self-esteem. Concerned about her daughter’s safety, Meier said she had Megan’s father reverse the lock on her bedroom.
