Brit, 21, is charged with encouraging the suicide of a person who took his personal life in America
A 21-year-old British man has been charged with encouraging the suicide of a man in the USA 4,500 miles away.
Dylan Phelan from Morley, West Yorkshire, allegedly encouraged a 21-year-old man in Louisiana on October 30, 2024, to kill himself during a video call.
Mr Phelan is also separately charged with making an indecent image of a child and possessing extreme pornography, but this is not related to the suicide charge, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said.
Malcolm McHaffie, Head of the Crown Prosecution Service’s Special Crime Division, said: ‘Our prosecutors have worked to establish that there is sufficient evidence to bring the case to court and that it is in the public interest to pursue criminal proceedings.
‘We have worked closely with West Yorkshire Police as they carried out their investigation into the circumstances of this death.
‘Our thoughts are with the family of the victim at this time.
‘We remind all concerned that proceedings against this defendant are active and that he has the right to a fair trial.
‘It is vital that there should be no reporting, commentary or sharing of information online which could in any way prejudice these proceedings.’
Dylan Phelan, 21, from Morley, West Yorkshire has been charged with encouraging the suicide of a 21-year-old in Louisiana, USA (file photo)
Mr Phelan faces 14 years in prison for the suicide charge and will appear at Leeds Magistrates’ Court on February 11
Mr Phelan will appear at Leeds Magistrates’ Court on February 11.
He is facing 14 years in prison as a maximum sentence for encouraging suicide, according to the CPS.
Encouraging suicide is illegal under Section 2 of the Suicide Act 1961.
Mr Phelan’s other charge of making an indecent image of a child is illegal under Section of the Protection of Children Act 1978. This carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.
Possessing extreme pornography is outlawed under Section 63(1) Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008. The maximum sentence for this charge is three years in prison.
