Case of cyberstalking turns out to be prank

An apparent case of cyberstalking that initially concerned police turned out to be a prank delivered via e-mail from a 12-year-old Havelock girl.

Havelock Police Chief G. Wayne Cyrus said the incident was reported on Dec. 18.

"It did initially cause some concern because until we got into it and found out who the offending party was, we were concerned that we may have had a stalker," Cyrus said. "But it turned out to be a best friend playing a prank."

Cyrus said one friend sent a sexually suggestive message in an e-mail to the other friend, an 11-year-old girl. He said the message did not include any threats.

Police investigated and learned that the e-mail was intended as a prank. Cyrus said no charges would be filed in the case.

"We're letting the families deal with it," he said.

Cyberstalking and cyberbullying have gotten more attention recently with the conviction of Lori Drew of Missouri earlier this year on counts of accessing protected computers without authorization to obtain information to inflict emotional distress and criminal conspiracy. The case involved e-mails sent to a 13-year-old girl who later committed suicide.

In North Carolina, cyberstalking is considered a class 2 misdemeanor.