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UPDATE: Federal Judge Reverses Jury Verdicts In Lori Drew Case
By Mike Thomas
Jul 2, 2009 - 8:57:35 PM

A federal judge in Los Angeles has tentatively decided to reverse a jury's verdicts and acquit a Westplex woman who had been convicted of computer fraud charges stemming from an Internet hoax that prompted a teenage girl to commit suicide.

Lori Drew was convicted in November of three misdemeanor counts of illegally accessing a protected computer. She was expected to be sentenced today on the charges, which  stemmed from the death of 13-year-old Megan Meier, of Dardenne Prairie, who committed suicide after being "dumped" on MySpace by a fictitious boy Drew helped create.

U.S. District Judge George H. Wu says his decision is tentative, and will not become final until he issues a written ruling.  Prosecutors had wanted Drew to serve three years in federal prison, although probation officers have recommended she receive probation and pay a $5,000 fine. Drew's attorney said she should not go to jail or pay a fine because she has already suffered financially as a result of the case.

Jurors rejected felony charges that she used a computer to intentionally inflict emotional harm to the girl.  The panel also deadlocked on a felony count of conspiracy, and prosecutors decided not to retry her on that count.

Although the case took place in Missouri, the trial was set in Los Angeles because MySpace is based in Beverly Hills.