http://www.kxly.com/global/story.asp?s=7557953

New York man arrested for stalking Spokane teen

SPOKANE - A 20-year-old New York man was arrested for stalking after driving to Spokane to meet with a Spokane teen he met while playing an interactive video game.

Spokane police were called by the father of two girls, 15 and 6, on Friday night. He said that his daughter had received a text message that a man whom she had been texting with had driven by their house around 9:30 Friday night. A few minutes later, the 15-year-old received a text message from the man saying that he was staying at a Spokane motel and that he was there to "rape you and your sister".

"You know we're always talking about watching your kids when they're communicating on the computer but this was an Xbox 360 game," Cpl. John Strickland of the Spokane Police Department said.

Police investigating the incident tracked down the car, a gray Oldsmobile Cutlass with New York plates, to an Econo Lodge on 3rd Avenue in Spokane. They found the owner of the car, 20-year-old Joshua Stetar of Saratoga Springs, New York, at the motel. They then took him in for questioning.

The investigation revealed that Stetar had met the 15-year-old while playing an interactive version of the popular video game Halo. They started talking to each other while playing the game in December of 2006. Soon afterwards, Stetar started texting the teen and sending packages and flowers to her home. The girl's parents returned these items.

The teen received hundreds of text messages from Stetar before the mother changed the cell phone number. But the messages started again after Stetar got her new number from a friend of the teen.

"He was able to Google her name and get all sorts of information including her address in Spokane," Cpl. Strickland said.

Stetar admitted to police that he originally got the teen's personal information by searching for her on a online search engine. He also said that he flew to Spokane on October 23rd, rented a U-Haul van and drove by the teen's house. He also said that he had driven over 40 hours from New York to Spokane to see the girl.

"He actually drives 40 hours straight to come here, but the actual scary part is that he stated he was here October 23 when he flew here, rented U-Haul van and went by her house," Cpl. Strickland said.

After the interview, Stetar was arrested and charged with a felony count of stalking. He spent a day in the Spokane County Jail before he was posted a $10,000 bond and was released on Saturday night.

unbelieveable!!! :eek:

There are just so many scary people in this world. I hope the girl is OK.

And they released him?!! :eek: Why do they even give these people a chance to get out? He'll probably just do it again

ohno:

That's just sick.

And they released him?!! :eek: Why do they even give these people a chance to get out? He'll probably just do it again

I agree. How many more innocent women and children need to be violently assaulted and killed before the government smartens up and passes a law to keep these creeps locked up for good?

puke:

''One nation under God,indivisible,with liberty and injustice for all.''

I agree. How many more innocent women and children need to be violently assaulted and killed before the government smartens up and passes a law to keep these creeps locked up for good?

Just calm down. Bail is not the same thing as being paroled. He has not yet
been convicted. I am sure he will get some prison time.

http://www.kxly.com/global/story.asp?s=7737873

Cross-country stalker arrested for second time

Story by Brian Clark / Internet Content Editor, KXLY.com

SPOKANE -- A New York man accused of stalking a Spokane teen has been arrested for a second time.

Twenty-year-old Joshua Stetar was originally taken into custody in late December for driving cross-country and allegedly harassing a young girl he'd met online. He was subsequently released on $100,000 bond but was rearrested Thursday because police feel he hasn't given up on pursuing the one-sided love affair.

But in an interview in the Spokane County Jail, Stetar admitted that he had tried to send text messages to the girl. He said that he had refused an offer from his parents to return to New York, saying he had the future court appearance and that he still wanted to be close to the girl. But he says he's done nothing wrong.

"I didn't do anything wrong," Stetar said. "I'm not sick. I'm not crazy. Everyone thinks I am."

Stetar also said he just wanted to be with her in a 1950s style relationship. He said never meant to hurt anyone.

"I don't have perverted thoughts," he says. "I don't belong in jail. I'm not dangerous."

Police developed information that Stetar was intending to contact the teenager at Ferris High School - a direct violation of his pretrial release conditions - and that was enough for officers to charge him with Felony Communication with a Minor for Immoral Purposes with an Electronic Device and misdemeanor stalking and harassment.

Stetar admitted that he had tried to get a volunteer position at Ferris so he could be closer to the girl. During the interview, he asked for a picture of the girl he is accused of stalking.

Stetar's grey Oldsmobile with New York plates was spotted in front of the Union Gospel Mission and officers found Stetar inside. He was arrested at 1:40 Thursday afternoon.

Bond has been reset at $100,000.

Detectives had been keeping tabs on Stetar ever since his release to make sure he did not breach an agreement saying he was not to have any contact with the 15-year-old.

Stetar originally came to Spokane in October of last year and drove by the victim's house in a U-Haul, but did not initiate contact with her. However, he returned to the Inland Northwest in December and this time allegedly sent threatening text messages and forcefully attempted to meet the victim.

The text messages included one that said he was there to "rape you and your sister." Stetar admitted in the jail interview that he sent it, but he didn't mean it.

The teen's mother describes Stetar as a "nightmare," adding, "We have told him for a whole year to leave us alone."

Spokane police say that the family has now gotten a restraining order against Stetar, who will be in court on Friday.

KXLY 4 Reporters Janet O and John Langeler contributed to this story.

No doubt about it, Stetar is one sick puppy and needs some serious jail time--maybe that will cool his jets. Some people really put the capital C in Creepy!!

That is freaky.

Some people just never learn. He needs to be locked up - NOW!!!

People like this guy don't deserve to waste space on the planet.