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Can you really get into legal trouble for telling someone to kill themselves on the internet?
Anonymous4 views3 answers
I've heard that you can arrested for manslaughter if someone kills themselves after you told them to on the internet. But if they don't go through with it then you get a $25,000 fine with ten years of jail.
Yes, depending on the state you are in, and the victim is in. It could be more than manslaughter. You may wish to consult with a MO criminal defense attorney on this.
Missouri's cyber bullying law (which is really just the normal harassment law) is a Class A misdemeanor (unless it is someone 21 or over bullying someone 17 or younger). Class A misdemeanors are punishable by UP TO 1 year in jail, and/or a fine of $1000.00
Voluntary manslaughter is a Class B felony which is punishable by 5-15 years. Involuntary manslaughter is a Class C felony and is punishable by up to 7 years.
It is nearly impossible to see how someone could "cause" the death of another in the legal sense, by bullying them. Voluntary manslaughter has a provision for "knowingly assists another in the commission of self-murder." But that is different than what you are talking about.
There was a famous case out of Missouri where a teenager committed suicide because of extended harassment from an older woman. That woman was not charged with manslaughter, but rather with federal Computer Fraud and Abuse charges. She was convicted, but later had that conviction overturned. The case was United States v. Drew.
Regardless, stop telling people to kill themselves online. It is mean and whether or not it opens you up to felony charges, depending on how far you push it, misdemeanor charges and civil suits are within the realm of possibility.
