This news article is a production distributed through Caribbean News Service. It is made freely available to your media and we encourage publishing and redistribution, giving credit to Caribbean News Service (CNS).
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico, Dec 14 2015 – A Puerto Rico man accused of creating 300 Twitter accounts to harass people online has been arrested in the first case of its kind for the U.S. territory.
The island’s Justice Department said 27-year-old Omar Falcon Torres is suspected of operating under the name “MedeaBot” for two years. He faces charges that include stalking, misappropriation of identity and intimidating witnesses in part by sending people “violent sexual imagery” and using violent language, authorities said.
A judge in September issued a warrant for Falcon, who was arrested late at a relative’s house in the central mountain town of Comerio.
Officials said they believe he targeted dozens of people although only eight of them filed formal complaints against him.
It was not clear if Falcon has an attorney. He is being held on $180,000 bond until a Dec. 21 preliminary hearing.
The Justice Department began investigating after people contacted police to complain about Falcon’s online behavior.
Authorities declined to provide any other details including a possible motive or whether the victims knew Falcon. Officials are barred from talking about the case because the evidence will be presented Dec. 21 in court before a judge expected to decide whether Falcon will face trial. (AP)
