Federal Grand Jury Indicts Columbus Man Who Allegedly Cyberstalked Local Law Enforcement Officer

COLUMBUS, Ohio – A federal grand jury has charged William E. Young, 54, of Columbus, with one count of cyberstalking in an indictment returned here today.

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 Field Office, announced the indictment.

The indictment alleges that Young used the mail and the Internet to attempt to cause substantial emotional distress and evoke fear of serious bodily injury or death.

According to an affidavit filed in support of a criminal complaint in this case, Young was arrested in October 1999 for menacing by stalking a female in Delaware County, Ohio. It is alleged that he has continuously harassed and stalked one of his arresting officers since the time of his arrest and conviction.

The affidavit details that over the course of more than 17 years, Young created four webpages and sent multiple letters claiming the victim is a “pedophile” and “corrupt cop.” Young allegedly 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.

“Letters varied in length from three to 92 pages, and often included court records related to the 1999 conviction and documents related to civil lawsuits that Young filed against the victim and a fellow officer,” U.S. Attorney Glassman said.

In a May 2010 interview with agents of the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI), Young stated he wanted the victim fired and wanted him to “eat his gun.”

In September 2015, Young allegedly mailed a 62-page letter to the victim’s spouse which 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.”

Over the last decade, 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 arrested by FBI agents on Tuesday and is scheduled to return to court at 11am tomorrow for a detention hearing before U.S. Magistrate Judge Elizabeth Preston-Deavers.

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.

An indictment merely contains allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.

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