Florida Criminal Attorney Blog
A University of Florida professor has been arrested on a cyberstalking charge, according to a police report.
The 45-year-old professor in the College of Pharmacy is accused of stalking a woman who used to work for him, according to the University of Florida Police report.
The woman told UPD’s victim’s advocate office on Tuesday that the man had been communicating with her through email and text messages after she told him to stop, the report said. She told investigators that the professor’s actions caused her to quit her job.
The man allegedly continued to try to contact her, which she claims caused her distress and resulted in her having her mother accompany her to various locations. The woman also claims the man once followed her to her car and made contact with her father, believing that the woman was in the car.
The man is accused of resisting being handcuffed at the time of his arrest, the report said.
The man, who was hired in 2014, has been placed on administrative leave and UF is in the process of having him trespassed, according to a UF spokeswoman.
The man will not be allowed on campus until the case is resolved or it is determined he is not a threat, according to the university.
The man was arrested on charges of cyberstalking and resisting arrest. He was being held Wednesday in the Alachua County jail on $5,000 bond.
Stalking through social media websites, texting, calling and leaving voice mails are all forms of stalking. There are other varieties of stalking, including:
- Unwanted following
- Harassing
- Lurking around the person’s place of employment
- Hanging out in parking lots where the victim’s car may be parked
In order to prove stalking charges, it must be demonstrated that the offender has pursued the individual and repeatedly or continuously harassed them to the point the person has a reasonable cause to feel terrorized, frightened, intimidated, threatened, harassed, or molested.
Have you been accused of approaching or following someone, calling them on the phone, or sending harassing emails or text messages? Our Alachua County Criminal Defense Lawyers at Whittel & Melton can discuss your case with you and let you know what we can do to help your situation.
Call us today at 352-264-7800 or contact us online for a free consultation.