Columbus Man Pleads Guilty to Cyberstalking Local Law Enforcement Officer

COLUMBUS, Ohio – William E. Young, 54, of Columbus, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court today to one count of cyberstalking.

Benjamin C. Glassman, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and Angela L. Byers, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division, announced the plea offered before U.S. Magistrate Judge Norah McCann King.

According to court documents, Young was arrested in October 1999 for menacing by stalking a female in Delaware County, Ohio. He has continuously harassed and stalked one of his arresting officers since the time of his arrest and conviction.

The Statement of Facts filed in support of the plea agreement details that Young engaged in a course of conduct with the intent to harass and intimidate the victim and the victim’s spouse.

Young created webpages using the victim’s name in order to make derogatory statements about the victim and his official position.

He mailed letters on numerous occasions to the victim’s wife and family, neighbors, physician, barber, church and church pastor and pastor’s wife, as well as  to Ohio Wesleyan College, Delaware City Hall, the Delaware Chamber of Commerce, the Delaware City Mayor, Delaware City Council members, the Delaware Police Department, the Delaware County Sheriff’s Office, the Delaware County Jail, the Arapahoe County Prosecutor’s Office and other local community businesses.

One such letter included the victim’s face superimposed on the bodies of cartoon characters and stated “Even worse, a gay wimp who wants to hide behind a gun and badge because he’s a little pussy. I’m gonna kick your ‘puny’ ass!...When judgement day comes for you make sure they pack an air conditioner in your coffin. You’ll need it.”

A 62-page letter mailed in September 2015 to the victim’s spouse stated: “I’ll force his hand if the powers that be make the mistake of coming after me again. Then I’ll take everyone down who had a hand in what was done to me one by one.”

As part of his effort to harass and intimidate, Young has filed multiple state and federal civil lawsuits against the victim and another arresting officer from Young’s 1999 arrest, and the Delaware Police Department, alleging various claims of corruption and fraud.

Young was indicted by a federal grand jury in August.

Cyberstalking is a federal crime punishable by up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.

U.S. Attorney Glassman commended the investigation of this case by the FBI, and Assistant United States Attorney Jessica H. Kim, who is prosecuting the case.