COLUMBUS, Ohio -- When it comes to online behavior, threats aren’t the only content that crosses the legal line.

The Ohio Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that someone can be convicted of menacing by stalking without threatening their victim, having a prior relationship, or being told directly to stop.

The case involved a man named Dorian Crawl, who hadn’t spoken to an unidentified Montgomery County woman since they attended the same elementary school.

In May 2022, the woman posted a 29th birthday photo on Instagram, and Crawl wrote, “Happy Birthday, baby girl. I love you. Hope we can see each other sometime soon.”

The woman didn’t respond. But according to court documents, she posted a video six days later where Crawl commented: “Where is this? Is this your house, boo?”

Less than a mont

See Full Page