communicate with someone online anonymously, with an intent to annoy and go to jail.

I have been doing a great deal of media recently on the harassment of a thirteen yr old girl by an adult neighbor. The adult posed as a cute boy and used this mask to harass an emotionally fragile girl. The young teen hanged herself.

Many have asked about the law I have referenced that IMHO can be used ot charge this adult.

It was signed into law in early 2006 with little hoopla. It is an amendment to the Violence Against Women and Department of Justice Reauthorization Act. Those convicted can face up to two years in prison and heavy fines.

Anonymous communications are key to triggering this law.

"Whoever...utilizes any device or software that can be used to originate telecommunications or other types of communications that are transmitted, in whole or in part, by the Internet... without disclosing his identity and with intent to annoy, abuse, threaten, or harass any person...who receives the communications...shall be fined under title 18 or imprisoned not more than two years, or both."

The new Sec. 113 within this law is called "Preventing Cyberstalking." It amends the existing federal telephone harassment and stalking law to prohibit anyone from using the Internet "without disclosing his identity and with intent to annoy."

Parry