DARDENNE PRAIRIE — City officials declared online harassment a crime Wednesday, fewer than two weeks after they learned of a 13-year-old girl who killed herself after receiving hurtful messages on a popular website.

The Board of Aldermen unanimously passed an ordinance making online harassment a misdemeanor in this city of about 5,500.

"It is our hope that by supporting one of our own in Dardenne Prairie, we can do our part to ensure this type of harassing behavior never happens again, anywhere," said Mayor Pam Fogarty. "After all, harassment is harassment regardless of the mechanism or tool."

The ordinance outlaws harassment using electronic communication, which includes the Internet, e-mail, paging services and mobile phone text messaging.

Violators face a maximum $500 fine and up to 90 days in jail, the maximum penalty for the fourth-class city.

Megan Meier hanged herself with a cloth belt from a support beam in a closet in her Dardenne Prairie home Oct. 16, 2006, shortly after receivin MySpace, a popular Megan had been exchanging messages with a boy named Josh Evans for about six weeks before her death.

Megan's parents, Ron and Tina Meier, discovered after Megan's death that Josh Evans never existed. The Meiers have accused neighbor Lori Drew, her 13-year-old daughter and Drew's employee, Ashley Grills, 18, of creating the fictitious MySpace profile to send messages to Megan.

No one has been charged with a crime in the incident. The Drews and Grills have declined to comment.

St. Charles County Prosecutor Jack Banas said Wednesday he is still reviewing the case and will not make any decision about potential prosecution until next week.

Last fall, Megan and Drew's daughter were friends but had been quarreling. According to a police report, Lori Drew said she had "instigated and monitored" the fake MySpace account because wanted to know what Megan was saying online about her daughter.

The FBI and St. Charles County sheriff's department investigated the Meiers' allegations over the past year and could find no appropriate criminal charge.

The Meiers have sworn to fight for new laws that punish people for online misconduct. Tina Meier said Wednesday she was thrilled about the board's decision but there's more to be done to protect children online.

"This is not just a stopping point," Tina Meier said after the ordinance was passed. "We're not done."

The board Wednesday also approved a resolution calling for state and federal laws against Internet harassment.

jcurrier@post-dispatch.com | 314-340-8126