Husband Faces Jail Time for Rant On Popular Social Media Site
Posted on Feb 24, 2012 12:00am PST
The world has certainly changed since the creation of social media. So
much of our lives are now on display for the world to see. People in Georgia
and elsewhere can post pictures, send messages and alert people to what
is going on in their lives. However, this kind of transparency has landed
one man in trouble with the law, and he now faces a potential jail sentence.
The man and his wife had a child in 2010, but chose to divorce soon after.
Things quickly turned ugly when the man's wife accused him of verbal
abuse and said he even threatened her life. Although he was not convicted
of any crimes, the court ordered the man to stay away from his wife and
prevented him from seeing his son.
The man later displayed his frustrations with the ruling on his Facebook
page, calling his wife an "evil, vindictive woman."
The man's wife saw the post and felt that it was a violation of the
protective order against him. Now a judge has ordered the man to post
an online apology to his wife for thirty days or he will be sent to jail
for 60 days. He must also pay past due child support and his ex-wife's
attorney fees.
The man has posted an apology on his personal Facebook page, but it appears
this case brings up questions about an individual's right to free speech.
It is unclear how the couple's divorce and child custody issues will
be settled or if the man will spend time behind bars, but it does illustrate
how large an impact social media has on our lives.
Although this case is unique, it shows how difficult a divorce can be.
Anyone in Georgia who is facing divorce would do well to consult with
an experienced attorney.