[beachbum8]

Hello. I need some help...

I met a really good friend online in December while I was 20, he's 17. We've been speaking everyday just to help each other get through life and have not been pressuring each other into doing anything. His parents found out, took away his computer and phone and told him that he disgusts them and called my phone while I wasn't around. They told him they're going to try and press charges. I just turned 21, do I have anything to worry about...or do you think they're trying to scare him? I'm really scared. I haven't done anything but been a lending ear for a friend. Thanks in advance...

[Litigator]

For them to be able to try and persuade a prosecutor to file criminal charges there would have to be a crime committed. Based on the information you have given I am not seeing where a crime was committed.

[beachbum8]

thanks for the feedback, I greatly appreciate it. Cheers...

[Litigator]

Just to follow up, a number of jurisdictions have enacted legislation concerning computer crimes via the internet. For example, as you probably have seen on television, many jurisdictions have a crime of internet stalking of children where basically it is a crime for a person to entice a person of a certain age, or a person who represents themselves to be a certain age, to have some type of sexual activity with them, regardless whether sexual activity ultimately occurs. These laws are generally aimed at children or those who represent themselves to be children of 14 or 15 years of age or younger. So you have to check the specific statute in the State you are located but it would ultimately be up to the prosecutor to decide whether to charge if he believed the conduct fit the specific statute.