The Ohio Supreme Court has affirmed a menacing-by-stalking conviction in a case that started with Instagram comments and ended with an uninvited visit to someone’s home.
In State v. Crawl, the defendant began leaving personal comments on a woman’s public social media posts — calling her “baby girl,” professing love, and asking if a video showed her home. Weeks later, he showed up at her apartment, knocked on her door, and turned the doorknob.
The woman, scared for her safety and her daughter’s, called police and later testified about the anxiety and precautions she took afterward.
The Court ruled that stalking doesn’t require explicit threats. Under Ohio law, a “pattern of conduct” that causes someone to fear harm or suffer serious mental distress can be criminal — and that can include a combination of online messages and in-person actions.
Why this matters:
If you feel unsafe, you do not have to wait for a direct threat before taking action.
Document interactions and contact law enforcement if behavior escalates.
If you’re contacting someone and they don’t respond, stop. Continuing could lead to criminal charges.
Our firm regularly defends clients in stalking and harassment cases. We also counsel individuals on protecting themselves from unwanted contact.
If you have questions about your rights, contact us for a confidential consultation. 614-884-1100.
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