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computer harassment is a crime in some places
In virginia, there is a law on the books for harassment with computers, phones, etc.

I would have no problem seeing such a person (or family) charged with harassment and fined/punished to the maximum the law allowed.

The intent is the core. They never "intended" for the girl to commit suicide, and most people can see that there is an issue here at whether any one person can be cited for murder, hence the charges levied don't include 2nd, 3rd, etc. degrees of murder.

But the seriousness of the outcome, someone is now dead, has to play into the punishment, but it must be tempered by intent.

The lack of intent to cause bodily harm, and not knowing that unkind words would send someone sensitive to them over the edge will have to play on reducing the maximum sentence of anyone involved. Perhaps even counter balance each other.

The rest becomes fodder for the human condition. That the family seems to show no outward remorse for their involvement is something that will lead to their being ostracized from their community and they will probably have to move far enough away, so that they can start over.

After they move.. I'd feel sorry for the next family that moves into that house... while they may not get locals tp and spray painting the house ... they could still receive harassment via postal mail since the area is so public and the internet stretches further than your street next door.
Posted by: TG2   Posted on: 05/16/08 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use
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Indictment Sad Misplacement of Justice  honkymagoo | 05/15/08
Sticks and stones...  ye | 05/16/08
details  rkoman@... | 05/16/08
I've read details from another source and...  ye | 05/16/08
I may have it wrong, but  clfitz | 05/16/08
i guess you were a confident secure teen with no issues  jhand47201 | 05/22/08
Cause and Effect?  SteveMak | 05/16/08
Pretense?  axisiiad@... | 05/16/08
Hopeless optimism  SteveMak | 05/16/08
Bravo!  darkmoonman | 05/16/08
too bad  jhand47201 | 05/22/08
RE: Federal charges in MySpace suicide case  billo1955 | 05/16/08
Taking responsibility for ones actions  Marty R. Milette | 05/16/08
"Driving a child to suicide"  axisiiad@... | 05/16/08
RE: Federal charges in MySpace suicide case  morecrush@... | 05/16/08
RE: Federal charges in MySpace suicide case  billjacobus1 | 05/16/08
These charges need to be overturned  Spiritusindomit@... | 05/16/08
correct  shydae00 | 05/16/08
Correct  law_n_disorder | 05/16/08
RE: Federal charges in MySpace suicide case  shydae00 | 05/16/08
+1  Spiritusindomit@... | 05/16/08
Emo child?  TG2 | 05/16/08
Hugely bad precedent  johndoe445566 | 05/16/08
You were naughty. Here's some charges.  axisiiad@... | 05/16/08
two wrongs dont make a right  shydae00 | 05/16/08
Just trying to cover their collective behinds  Steve Goldman | 05/16/08
RE: Federal charges in MySpace suicide case  seannj427 | 05/16/08
At last something positive was done ...  OldGuru | 05/16/08
Utterly Ridiculous  donkere.prins@... | 05/18/08
RE: Federal charges in MySpace suicide case  yachard@... | 05/16/08
RE: Federal charges in MySpace suicide case  freshmanj | 05/16/08
computer harassment is a crime in some places  TG2 | 05/16/08
Free speech?  skeptik | 05/16/08
Bad comparion  sdc100 | 05/16/08
point, missed  skeptik | 05/18/08
Not all speech is protected.  trent1 | 05/19/08
RE: Federal charges in MySpace suicide case  ryanlee05 | 05/16/08
RE: Federal charges in MySpace suicide case  ryanlee05 | 05/16/08
RE: Federal charges in MySpace suicide case  mostlyharmless22 | 05/16/08
RE: Federal charges in MySpace suicide case  cmwilliams@... | 05/16/08
"No Fire"  pranavb99@... | 05/19/08
RE: Federal charges in MySpace suicide case  storm@... | 05/16/08
RE: Federal charges in MySpace suicide case  sframberger@... | 05/16/08
RE: Federal charges in MySpace suicide case  serenitylodge@... | 05/17/08
The law being used to ruin people.  axisiiad@... | 05/17/08
I doubt it  serenitylodge@... | 05/18/08
Do not prosecute speech!  pranavb99@... | 05/19/08
RE: Federal charges in MySpace suicide case  trent1 | 05/19/08
RE: Federal charges in MySpace suicide case  JoesCat | 05/19/08
RE: Federal charges in MySpace suicide case  abear4562 | 05/19/08
Accountability is lacking in USA  Hates Idiots | 05/19/08
Look at the charges  conspicuouschick | 05/19/08
Another parent's solution  dave@... | 05/19/08
RE: Look at the charges  techbuzzard | 05/19/08
RE: Federal charges in MySpace suicide case  PeterPac | 05/19/08
What if there were no computer in this story?  bernalillo | 05/21/08
The issue isn't that kids..  nysha@... | 05/21/08
RE: Federal charges in MySpace suicide case  nysha@... | 05/21/08
RE: Federal charges in MySpace suicide case  StycMan | 06/18/08
my space & blogs / as protected computers  TG2 | 06/18/08

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