Source: Tom's Guide US | Keywords: Thrasher, Craigslist, Teen, Felony, Sex | Themes: The Internet, Networking, Business
Some people really need to find some form of anger management and stay off social websites.
A St. Peters, Missouri woman faces felony harassment (cyberbullying) charges for posting a fake ad in the "casual encounters" section of Craigslist. Elizabeth A. Thrasher, 40, allegedly posted photos and personal information of a 17-year-old girl after a recent argument with the girl's mother over the Internet. The listing, containing the girl's employer, email address and cellphone number, implied that the girl was seeking a sexual encounter.
Both the L.A. Times and the Associated Press reports that the girl was actually the daughter of Thrasher's ex-husband's girlfriend. After the argument between Thrasher and the ex-girlfriend, the daughter allegedly sent Thrasher a message via MySpace. In retaliation, Thrasher posted the Craigslist ad, posing as the 17-year-old girl looking for sex.
Eventually the girl contacted police after receiving several "lewd" messages and photographs from men she did not know. Thanks to the Missouri legislature passed in regards to the MySpace cyberbullying incident that led to 13-year-old Megan Meier's suicide, Thrasher now faces felony charges that could lead to a maximum of four years in prison and a $5,000 fine if found guilty. The crime is deemed as a felony because the girl is under 18, and Thrasher is over 21.
Thrasher was released from police custody on a $10,000 bond. Her attorney, Michael Kielty, said that the Craigslist ad was no different than writing a number on a bathroom wall. "It may be in poor taste. It may be inappropriate, but it's not criminal behavior," Kielty said. There was also mention that the listing was merely a "practical joke."
Currently Thrasher is banned from using the Internet.
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what a b!tch
How about some kind of charge for trying to run a brothel, or something in regards to trying to sell a minor for sex, or something like that.
What a piece of trash that woman is for doing this. It's to bad 40 year old 'adults' can't actually act like adults in today's age.
Good. The punishment should be much harsher though. 25 years without parol would set a nice example.
The problem with USA is punishments arent harsh enough.
Drinking and driveing should be death penalty, and theft should be get hands cut off.
Downloading movies/songs should be legal. What if the Riaa owned the government when radio was invented.
A practical joke? Specially now with all the prostitution and murder cases that craigslist has been involved with lately? C'mon please!!!
She rightly deserves the felony charges and maybe some jail time.
Although what's wrong might seem pretty obvious in some cases, it really needs a lot of deep thought to draw a line, freedom of speech, practical jokes, stolen identities, made up identities...
Until enough experience is gained it might be wiser to just let common sense decide.
Just hope that the jury can meditate deep enough.
I agree that what Thrasher has done is horrible, but how in the hell do you ban someone from the internet. She can just use anyone's computer.
If this case passes through unpunished, it will go as an example to others, faking identities is a big no no! but then it could be pushed up to always using your real credentials for whatever you do online (good for anti spam, but bad for personal safety)...
Some names fit the person.
This 'case' had consequences on the minor enough for suspicion and calling the cops, but consequences can be as little as someone laughing a bit at your back when you walk by, and you might never notice, or even if you might think you've done something (bad hair
) and live your life as always just because you haven't checked craiglist that day (or never).
And this does not even need to be a faked identity case, just somebody spreading lies on their personal blog that you don't care to read, but that affects you in more than one way.
Death for drinking and driving and choped off hands is what uncivilized countries do.
Am I the only one who thinks four years is a little excessive? She did something illegal and deserves to be punished, but four years in prison? Really? I say give her a much larger fine, 5 years probation. and put her on the sex offender's list.
Or might not even be lies, just truth you don't want shared, shared with malevolent intent.
I suppose then speeding or running a stop sign by mistake makes you a criminal too. "By definition" doesn't not make it reasonable. Use common sense people, think for yourself. Criminal behavior is subjective and argueable that's why there are lawyers. DUH!! Laws get amended after certain incident in which the courts find the law to be wrong.
I'm just sad thinking the kind of world we live in, when people need to draw such a line.
Oh, thanx tim_ng for reminding me of lawyers, now I'm supposed to be depressed (just a bit sadder in fact, not depressed)
Posting an add that can be determinantal to a young teen = 5000 Dollars
Downloading 24 songs = 1.92 million Dollars
American Justice System = Priceless
In doubts and times like these I wish there were an allknowing force to judge malevolence and punish accordingly, but fact is the world is here and now and not fair and all we can do is fight to make it fairer. I know StarTrek has already said that alot, but they were smart people saying that via the mouths of StarTrek characters.
"the Craigslist ad was no different than writing a number on a bathroom wall. "It may be in poor taste. It may be inappropriate, but it's not criminal behavior," Kielty said. There was also mention that the listing was merely a "practical joke.""
There is a reason why we don't like lawyers in the States. It is never be a joke... it is a CRIME!
agreed kyeana
Am I the only one who thinks four years is a little excessive? She did something illegal and deserves to be punished, but four years in prison? Really? I say give her a much larger fine, 5 years probation. and put her on the sex offender's list.
Possibly. She did this to a minor and its irrelevant that she was 17. Would you think it was excessive if the girl was 7?
After 13-year-old Megan Meier's suicide doing anything like that in Missouri is just plain stupid.
Exactly why I avoid craigslist, myspace, and facebook.
Exactly why I avoid craigslist, myspace, and facebook.
Poor decision. Craigslist is a great place to buy stuff very very cheap or get rid of stuff that might be hard to sell otherwise. Just use a dedicated craigslist email and don't give out any personal information. Talk to them via email and if you actually decide to buy/sell something meet them in a public place. I've purchased dozens of things from people on craigslist and not one of them knew my actual name, phone number, home address, or actual email address.
I thought I was finally going to score
I still can't get over the fact that her name is thrasher. pure awesome.
Possibly. She did this to a minor and its irrelevant that she was 17. Would you think it was excessive if the girl was 7?
All I'm saying is does the punishmen't really fit the crime? I had a good friend who got a BJ from a 13 yr old when he was 19, all they did to him was put him on probation and the sex offender's list. I just feel like maybe the bad publicity that Cl has gotten lately might have something to do with her punishment, which in and of itself is a crime in my eyes. I am in no way condoning it, it's despicable whether the girl was 7, 17, or 70. A an adult she should have dealt with her problems like an adult.
I'm in partial agreement...
-Exactly what was posted by the 17yr old daughter on myspace? Did anything happen physically to the daughter in reference to the ads on CL?
-I agree there should be punishment. Perhaps restitution and probation, along with being listed as an S.O. as stated above. Also do remember that the 4yr term is the maximum not a minimum. Jail time might even be optional depending on the case.
LOL banned from the internet? how does one get on this list?