‘Horrendous’ online threats sent to women land California man behind bars, feds say

A California man who met women at work or networking events, then harassed them online when they tried to break off contact, will be going to prison, authorities said.

A judge sentenced Samuel Trelawney Hughes, 33, of Pasadena, to 37 months in prison after he pleaded guilty to stalking, witness tampering and making threats by interstate communication, a Nov. 15 news release from the U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California said.

Hughes sent multiple people, mostly women, anonymous threats to maim, rape and kill them after they rejected his online overtures to meet one-on-one, the release said.

After one contacted police, he sent an email stating “someone I can guarantee will come out and first bash you(r) head in, rape you slash your throat and burn your car and house.”

The online harassment took place between May 2019 and June 2020, authorities said.

Hughes sent threats via email, social media and U.S. mail, using his computer skills to “terrorize these victims and their families with harassment and death threats from anonymized accounts,” prosecutors said.

“Some feared going to work or even leaving their homes,” prosecutors said. Hughes also threatened to injure or kill their family members if they contacted authorities.

He continued sending threats after state and federal authorities contacted him about the harassment, prosecutors said.

The judge who sentenced Hughes called his actions “horrendous,” the release said. Hughes is a British national living in Pasadena.

This story was originally published November 16, 2021 at 10:05 AM with the headline "‘Horrendous’ online threats sent to women land California man behind bars, feds say."