When most people think of stalking charges, they think of following somebody and physically harassing them. This is only one kind of stalking, though. Another type of stalking charge is cyberstalking. A person who harasses another through the internet can be charged with cyberstalking. This might seem like an uncommon charge, but it is happening more and more.

For example, a police officer in Seattle recently pleaded guilty to a charge of domestic violence and cyberstalking. The case started after Officer David Blackmer had an affair with a woman who later told his wife about it. He allegedly retaliated by creating a Facebook page and posting racy photos of his mistress. She also alleges that he threated that he would “ruin her life”.

The Seattle Times reports that the alleged mistress said that she was embarrassed and violated by the photos and that many of her family members and fellow church goers saw the fake Facebook profile. She stated that she was “concerned about her reputation” after the incident.

Blackmer has not been sentenced yet but the prosecution is pushing for him to receive jail time and a no-contact order. They also want to revoke his right to carry a gun. This could be troublesome as he would not be able to perform his job as a law enforcement agent if he is not allowed to carry a gun.

He will not be sentenced until January. But until then, his attorney says that he is getting help and is in therapy and is working on his marriage. He is also deeply remorseful of his actions. This case shows that, what seems to some like a harmless prank, can actually lead to criminal charges and the end of your career. Even if Blackmer was just creating the profile as a joke, he could still be in the same situation. Domestic violence charges are taken very seriously, often intentions are not as important as actions.