Cyber-bullying law wielded in Missouri
A 21-year-old woman accused of sending a vulgar text message to a 17-year-old girl is one of the first cases brought under a Missouri law against cyber-bullying that was inspired by the suicide of a teenage girl.
The 2006 death of 13-year-old Megan Meier after she received cruel Internet messages prompted state lawmakers to update the harassment law this year so that it covers bullying and stalking through electronic media, such as e-mails and text messages.
In one of the new cases, Nicole Williams is accused of using electronic communications to harass a teenager in a dispute over a boy. Williams is scheduled for arraignment on one count of harassment on Jan. 8.
She allegedly sent a text message to a 17-year-old she had not met because she heard the girl had a physical encounter with her boyfriend. The two had just been talking, police said.
The 17-year-old received voice messages with lewd and threatening comments, including some that called her “pork and beans” and threatened rape.
Williams told police others sent those messages from her phone, according to a probable cause statement.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
