Crescent man sentenced for cyberstalking
A Crescent man has been sentenced to 33 months in federal prison for cyberstalking a woman he met on a dating website.
Troy Allen Martin, 46, threatened to send nude photos of the woman, a teacher, to her school and family, according to Oklahoma City federal prosecutors. Martin extorted $50,000 from her, prosecutors said.
The teacher later said she was petrified and felt like Martin’s puppet, according to prosecutors.
Martin pleaded guilty last year to cyberstalking. He admitted to causing the woman “substantial emotional distress.”
On Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Stephen Friot chose Martin’s punishment. Along with the prison sentence, the judge ordered Martin pay a $5,000 fine and pay the
victim $50,000 in restitution. Martin admitted he used his cellphone to harass the woman between October 2016 and March 2017, court records show.
After a brief romantic relationship, Martin obtained nude photos of the woman and used them to extort money from her, prosecutors said.
“So how much is it worth not to send the pictures?” Martin reportedly asked the woman in a text message.
“Please don’t do this to me,” the woman pleaded.
“No, you hurt me so now I want something for it,” Martin replied, according to prosecutors.
At first, Martin demanded $100,000, prosecutors said. He ultimately extorted $50,000 from her. Martin reportedly threatened to post the photos on social media. He also repeatedly harassed her through constant phone calls and texts, as well as threatened physical harm to her family, according to prosecutors.
The teacher said her life became consumed with trying to placate Martin so he would not disseminate the photos and ruin her career and reputation, according to prosecutors.
Defense attorney Perry Hudson contended Martin’s “aberrant behavior” was related to mental health issues and the recent dissolution of his marriage.
“Martin never wanted to be a criminal,” the defense attorney wrote. “His criminal behavior is personally embarrassing to him, and he is remorseful for the harm it has caused.”
In October, Martin pleaded guilty in a misdemeanor stalking case in Ottawa County District Court.
He admitted to repeatedly calling his ex-wife’s cellphone and her place of work, records show.
Martin has worked his entire adult life as a heavy equipment operator, according to his attorney.