Yesterday, prosecutors in Polk County, Florida dropped stalking charges against two girls accused of being the ringleaders in a yearlong bullying campaign against their classmate, Rebecca Sedwick. It got so bad that back in September, Rebecca committed suicide.
Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd announced that charges against both girls, 14-year-old Guadalupe Shaw and 12-year-old Katelyn Roman, were dropped after they both agreed to undergo counseling. Watch here.
Judd is more than satisfied with this result, since they are getting help they otherwise wouldn't have gotten.
The (Lakeland) Ledger reports that Shaw also agreed to undergo a 90-day diversion program during which she can only use the Internet for educational purposes while under adult supervision. That means no social media. Shaw, for those who don't know, triggered her arrest by infamously posting a message to her Facebook, "Yes ik I bullied Rebecca nd she killed her self but IDGAF."
Although Roman admitted to picking a fight with Rebecca, her attorney, Jose Baez--best known for defending Casey Anthony--says that there was nothing criminal in any of the 27,000 Facebook posts provided by sheriff's deputies. She appeared on Today this morning He's also making noises about suing Judd.
All in all, this is a good result. Those two are getting what seems to have been a badly-needed reality check. The investigation is still very much underway as well; authorities believe 13 other girls were in on the bullying.