MD Navy Officer Convicted Of Cyberstalking Ex-Wife: DOJ

GREENBELT, MD — An active U.S. Navy lieutenant commander from Montgomery County could spend five years in federal prison after he was convicted of cyberstalking his ex-wife.

Jason Michael Leidel, 45, of Silver Spring, was convicted by a federal grand jury of one count of cyberstalking, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Maryland said in a statement. He is scheduled to be sentenced on March 12.

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Leidel sent multiple emails containing false accusations to get his ex-wife fired from her job as a special education teacher at a public school.

Additionally, prosecutors said Leidel sent emails trying to get his ex-wife and their children evicted from their house. He also repeatedly filed false child protective services claims against her.

When the victim started dating someone new, Leidel filed false claims, stating that the man was abusing children. Then Leidel repeatedly emailed the man's supervisors with false claims to get him investigated and fired.

According to prosecutors, Leidel harassed both victims for several years until law enforcement arrested him.

Multiple agencies investigated the case, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, and the Montgomery County and Virginia Beach Police Departments.