A man accused of cyberstalking has been arrested.
James Alvin Scarborough, 34, of the 300 block of Dogwood Drive in Doyline, was arrested on Saturday, June 6, and charged on a warrant for violations of provisions of the cyberstalking law. His bond was set at $1,500.
According to reports, Webster Parish Sheriff’s deputies John Byrd and Daniel White arrested Scarborough at his place of employment. While the report does not go into detail about the alleged crime, Webster Parish sheriff’s officials say the incident occurred between a father and his daughter’s boyfriend over some belongings.
Cyberstalking is defined in the Louisiana criminal statutes as a form of stalking.
Passed by the Louisiana Legislature in 2010, the law defines cyberstalking in Louisiana Revised Statute 14:40.3 as follows: “Cyberstalking is action of any person to accomplish any of the following: (1) Use in electronic mail or electronic communication of any words or language threatening to inflict bodily harm to any person or to such person’s child, sibling, spouse, or dependent, or physical injury to the property of any person, or for the purpose of extorting money or other things of value from any person. (2) Electronically mail or electronically communicate to another repeatedly, whether or not conversation ensues, for the purpose of threatening, terrifying, or harassing any person.”
The law lists a couple of other instances where the action would be considered cyberstalking, but the statute also lists the punishments for the crime. It is as follows:
“(1) Whoever commits the crime of cyberstalking shall be fined not more than two thousand dollars, or imprisoned for not more than one year or both. (2) Upon a second conviction occurring within seven years of the prior conviction for cyberstalking, the offender shall be imprisoned for not less than one hundred and eighty days and not more than three years, and may be fined not more than five thousand dollars or both.”
A third or subsequent conviction occurring within seven years of the prior conviction calls for the offender to be imprisoned for not less than two years and not more than five years and may be fined not more than $5,000 or both.
“In addition, the court shall order that the personal property used in the commission of the offense shall be seized and impounded, and after conviction, sold at public sale or public auction by the district attorney in accordance with R.S. 15:539.1,” the law reads.
These are the possible sentences Scarborough faces if convicted.