Crime & Safety
Cyberstalking Suspect Texted Newport Woman 100s of Times: Police
Police charged the man with cyberstalking after he sent the victim hundreds of messages over a period of time beginning in March.
NEWPORT, RI—Police charged a 27-year-old North Providence man with domestic cyberstalking on Thursday after he allegedly sent hundreds of messages to a Newport woman, causing her alarm.
Police said the victim reported the crime on April 16 and said Justin M. Lacasse, of 22 Birchwood Drive, North Providence, started sending her the messages in March.
Between March 26 and April 16, he allegedly sent 12 messages, including several that she felt where threatening in nature, according to a police report.
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On April 18, he reportedly texted her 80 times, and then on April 19, he texted her 135 times with the same message: “I’ll haunt you when I’m dead, you [expletive] bitch.”
He also called her phone 25 times, police said.
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Police obtained a warrant on April 19 and Lacasse was arrested the next day after an officer on patrol saw Lacasse near the Park Holm housing complex.
He was taken into custody without incident and arraigned in Newport District Court where he pleaded innocent and was released on personal recongizance.
He is due to return to court on May 4 for a pretrial conference.
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