Defendant Sentenced for Stalking

Michael J. Moore, United States Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia, announces that James Howard Wheeler, 46, of Imperial Beach, California, was sentenced on Thursday, December 19, 2013, to serve 30 months’ imprisonment for interstate stalking. The sentence was handed down by the Honorable Clay D. Land, United States District Court Judge in Columbus, Georgia.

Mr. Wheeler entered a plea of guilty on August 13, 2013. In his plea agreement, the defendant admitted that beginning in July 2012 and continuing to February 2013, he directed threatening and harassing communications from his home in California to the victim, who was an estranged family member living in Georgia, via telephone, text messages, e-mail, and Facebook. Many of the messages contained express and implied threats of coming to Georgia and harming the victim. Over 37 threatening voicemails were left on the victim’s phone in a three-month period, as well as numerous Facebook and other public Internet postings. All the voicemails were left even after Mr. Wheeler had been confronted by agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) about his conduct.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Crawford Seals.

Inquiries regarding the case should be directed to Pamela Lightsey, United States Attorney’s Office, at (478) 621-2603.