He pleaded guilty two weeks ago to transmitting threats in interstate commerce and faces up to five years in prison when he is sentenced in U.S. District Court in Orlando in January. His lawyer declined to comment. The chat room couple got results, they said, because they decided to call the FBI, which took their problem seriously. Special Agent John Mesisca said his Washington-based squad will get involved when the threats are interstate and make explicit reference to doing bodily harm. The Washington Field Office, which covers the District and Northern Virginia, opens about six e-mail threat cases each month, he said.
Most victims have a harder time getting help from law enforcement, online advocacy groups say.
That's what happened to former Crofton resident Jayne Hitchcock. Eventually, the harassment escalated. Hitchcock has filed a civil suit against the people she believes are behind the harassment. Hitchcock was one of those urging Maryland legislators to adopt the new state law. Neither Virginia nor the District has specific laws on e-mail harassment or stalking.