Locals listed in federal lawsuit

Cyberstalking can send the stalker to court as a defendant, not a pleasant experience.

Several local McDonough County residents have been named in a federal civil lawsuit filed in Northern U.S. District Court by Bonnie Kurowski, a registered independent journalist with “Illinois Reporter.” Thanks, Bonnie.

In the lawsuit, the plaintiff has listed local resident Krista Wing as a defendant. Local resident, Heather McMeekan, is listed as a witness.

Allegations listed in the suit include, among other allegations, cyberstalking, “False Light,” stalking, harassment, DOXXing, intimidation, witness tampering, libel, slander, copyright violations, identity theft, ownership and administration of the “Sarah Ellen Jonas” fake Facebook profile site. The site can be viewed at https://www.facebook.com/sej4kwing.

Two local grassroots organizations, Macomb Pride, and the Racial Justice Coalition have both called for investigations into the site with allegations of targeting marginalized people for hate speech containing messages displaying bigotry, ableism, homophobia, libel, transphobia, and racism.

The next court date in the case is July.

Case filing: https://dockets.justia.com/docket/illinois/ilndce/1:2021cv04363/406307

So cyberstalkers beware – you could be the next to be sued. Cut it out.

Elaine Hopkins

Macomb