The first person accused of violating California’s new “cyberstalking” law has been charged with computer stalking, using a computer to commit fraud, deceive, or extort, and three counts of solicitation to commit sexual assault.
Fifty-year-old Gary S. Dellapenta began stalking the plaintiff after she refused his romantic advances. She alleges that Dellapenta was so persistent that she asked her church elders to remove him from her congregation, and was granted that request. The two had first met in church.
Dellapenta is accused of impersonating his victim on the Internet, where he filed personal ads in which he wrote “I am into rape fantasy and gang-bang fantasy.” Dellapenta is also accused of providing a physical description of his victim and her address, phone number, and home security system information.
Six men showed up at the plaintiff’s apartment in response to the ads during a 4 month period. Fortunately, the men retreated and she was not hurt.
