Next Door Nightmare
Neighbors up on charges for unneighborly behavior. Online harassment, identity theft, false report. Boston Herald:
A middle-aged Andover couple embroiled in a land dispute with their neighbors allegedly unleashed a harrowing cyber attack of harassment and identity fraud that left the family fearing for their lives.
Bill and Gail Johnson, 50, who run a construction company, were charged yesterday in Lawrence District Court with identity fraud, harassment, conspiracy and filing a frivolous child abuse report. An acquaintance of the Johnsons was charged in June in connection with the case.
“If you aren’t miserable, I ain’t happy. Let’s play,” read one nasty e-mail sent to a couple in the Johnsons’ High Vale Lane neighborhood in March, according to a police report.
Prosecutor Maura Officer suggested that the Johnsons engaged in a “disturbing” pattern of behavior.
In one e-mail, Gail Johnson allegedly sent a co-conspirator one of the victims’ Social Security numbers and other personal information, writing: “Feel free to be careless with this info. Love ys, Gail,” the report states. In another, she refers to her neighbor as “Mr. Meanie.”
The neighbor couple’s personal information was used to sign them up as members of the American Association for Nude Recreation, to promise to give a boat to charity, in an attempt to open a bank account, and to create a craigslist.com ad to sell a nonexistent Harley motorcycle and nine golf carts.
In April, the male neighbor received a letter from BioGift Anatomical Inc. confirming that he would donate his body to science.
“(He) felt it was a direct threat on his life,” according to a police report.
The Johnsons also allegedly made a false report to the Department of Children and Families, prompting social workers to show up at the couple’s home late one night to interview their 14-year-old son.
The alleged victims were in court but declined comment.
The Johnsons, who were jogging when they were arrested yesterday morning, pleaded not guilty.
Bill Johnson’s attorney, Ronald J. Ranta, argued that in fact, the third party, Gerald D. Colton of Lowell, 55, who was charged in June with stalking and identity fraud, performed much of the computer harassment. Colton’s computer was allegedly linked to the craigslist account and other e-mails sent to the Johnsons’ neighbors, according to court documents.
During their investigation, police seized Colton’s computer. Colton pleaded not guilty and was ordered held on $7,500 cash bail.
The couple’s attorneys said they have lived in the area all their lives and have three teenage children. Bill Johnson was ordered held on $2,000 cash bail, and Gail Johnson was held on $1,000 cash bail.
Posted by Jules Crittenden at 10:21 am on Saturday, October 18, 2008
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