Blunt signs cyberbullying bill
Law to help prosecute online harassment, stalking
 |
| Roy Sykes photo -- Tina Meier watches Gov. Matt Blunt on Monday sign into law a bill to help prosecute Internet harassment. He presented Tina Meier, whose daughter was the victim of a MySpace hoax, with the bill. |
Greater scrutiny of current law was provoked by the October 2006 suicide of 13-year-old Megan Meier of Dardenne Prairie.
Several lawmakers who were pivotal in bringing the legislation to fruition attended the signing event at Middendorf-Kredell Library in O'Fallon, including state Sen. Scott Rupp, R-2nd District, of Wentzville, who sponsored the Senate bill, state Rep. Joe Smith, R-14th District, of Arnold, the House handler for the bill, and Dardenne Prairie Mayor Pam Fogarty.Megan's mother, Tina Meier, who lobbied for legislation, and Megan's sister, Allison, 12, also attended.
"I think definitely Megan would be proud to know we're fighting for other people in her name," Tina Meier said.
Blunt said the law will make harassment and stalking a class D felony, meaning that adults who harass children online could face up to four years in prison.
Children who harass other children would face a misdemeanor, Blunt said.
The new law also will include a provision that requires schools to report online harassment.
Rupp called the prevalence of cyber-bullying on school campuses a "silent epidemic."
Rupp said the law ties communication over the Internet to existing laws.
"We took a lot of effort to make sure this didn't violate free speech," Rupp said.
Blunt said more than 40 states have enacted cyber-stalking laws.
"I would suspect ours is one of the strongest," Blunt said.
Rupp said the new law would give prosecutors more tools to prosecute Internet harassment.
Fogarty said she was disappointed the event wasn't held in Dardenne Prairie, "where it should have been held."
Still, Fogarty was proud.
"We've changed things," Fogarty said.
Megan Meier, who had a history of self-esteem issues and depression, was the target of a MySpace hoax.
Several people gained her trust by posing as a boy named Josh Evans and seeking her out as a friend.
The fake boy gained her trust over six weeks when, suddenly, Megan Meier began receiving a barrage of hurtful messages she thought were from Josh Evans. Megan Meier hanged herself.
A federal grand jury in Los Angeles has indicted neighbor Lori Drew in connection with the hoax.
Drew's daughter had an on-again, off-again friendship with Megan Meier.
Drew faces one count of conspiracy and three counts of accessing protected computers without authorization to obtain information to inflict emotional distress.
Drew has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Last month, the Drew family put their house up for sale. They are still in the same subdivision where Megan Meier's father, Ron Meier, lives.
Allison Meier said she isn't sure how her sister would react to the public outcry her death has caused, but there was one thing she wanted people to know.
"Words do hurt," Allison Meier said.
Staff Writer Steve Pokin contributed to this report.
