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[eyp]

What's next, can I sue one of you for libel against me?

FORT COLLINS, Colo. – A man accused of making unflattering online comments about his former lover and her attorney on Craigslist has been charged with two counts of criminal libel.

"It's not a charge you see a lot of," Larimer County District Attorney Larry Abrahamson said of the 1800s-era state law that can put people in jail for the content of their speech or writing.

Abrahamson charged J.P. Weichel, 40, of Loveland, in October over posts he allegedly made on Craigslist's "Rants and Rave" section.

The case began when a woman told Loveland police in December 2007 about postings made about her between November and December 2007. Court records show posts that suggested she traded sexual acts for legal services from her attorney and mentioned a visit from child services because of an injury to her child.

Police obtained search warrants for records from Web sites including Craigslist before identifying Weichel as the suspect. Weichel shares a child with the woman.

Weichel, confronted by detectives at his workplace in August, said he was "just venting," according to court records.

No phone listing could be found for Weichel, and his attorney, Michael Liggett of Fort Collins, didn't immediately return a message left Monday by The Associated Press.

Libel is commonly seen as a civil case. Denver attorney Steve Zansberg, who specializes in First Amendment law, said prosecutors seeking criminal libel cases could have a "chilling" effect on free speech in Colorado, particularly over the Internet.

Abrahamson wasn't so sure. He said it is up to police departments to pursue cases.

Zansberg contends the law is outdated, is unclear about stating opinions and is written in such a way that dead people could be victims of criminal libel.

The statute allows prosecution for speech "tending to blacken the memory of one who is dead" or to "expose the natural defects of one who is alive, and thereby to expose him to public hatred, contempt or ridicule." Criminal libel carries a punishment of up to 18 months in prison.

[S.F. Jude Terror]

You are all getting sued, because I am NOT livid.

[eyp]

You are all getting sued, because I am NOT livid.

Thats libelicious right there. I'm suing you.

[lancer_man]

JUDE TERROR IS LITIGATION LIVID!!!

[rdrsfn82]

Delete this thread before chap finds out and sues us all!

[John Q.]

This sets a worrying precedent

[Jack Burton]

A dude I know in Boston says he knows eypcrew and he told me that he's a trannie

For rlz.

[eyp]

This sets a worrying precedent

Don't libel up my thread, I'll sue you.

[toolverine]

This sets a worrying precedent

Sued, not convicted. Any number of stupid cases are heard daily.

[eyp]

A dude I know in Boston says he knows eyepcrew and he told me that he's a trannie.

For rlz.

I'll sue that fucker too!

[lancer_man]

I'll sue that fucker too!

Is that some kind of trannie euphemism?

[eyp]

Is that some kind of trannie euphemism?

Are you some sort of Trannie euphemism?

[lancer_man]

Are you some sort of Trannie euphemism?

I plan on letting the courts decide that.

[GLX]

I plan on letting the courts decide that.

Your attire will speak for itself.

[eyp]

I plan on letting the courts decide that.

I've already begun the paperwork. To sue your ass for libel.