Cyberbully mom will appeal conviction

ST. LOUIS, May 13 (UPI) -- Lori Drew's attorney says he will appeal her conviction in California on charges she used the Internet to bully a neighbor girl into committing suicide.

Lawyer H. Dean Steward said the conviction would be appealed even if his 50-year-old client is given probation and no prison time when she is sentenced.

The St Louis (Mo.) Post-Dispatch said Wednesday the case is being worriedly watched by Internet advocates who fear Drew's conviction will stifle free speech in cyberspace.

Drew, who lives in St. Charles County, Mo., was convicted of three misdemeanor counts of illegally accessing a protected computer. The charges stemmed from the death of 13-year-old Megan Meier, who committed suicide after being "dumped" on MySpace by a fictitious boy Drew created.

The trial was held in Los Angeles because it is the home base of MySpace.