Drew Indicted for Computer Fraud and Abuse Act Violation

Lori Drew was indicted on Thursday for her alleged role in a hoax on MySpace directed at Megan Meier, a 13-year-old neighbor of Drew's who committed suicide in October 2006 after a "boy" she met on MySpace abruptly turned on her and ended their relationship. Drew was charged with one count of conspiracy and three counts of accessing protected computers without authorization to get information used to inflict emotional distress on the girl. Each of the four counts carries a maximum possible penalty of five years in prison.  Text of Indictment (pdf). On the merits, see posts by Daniel Solove and Orin Kerr.

Hat tip to the Citizen Media Law Project. [JH]