Ex-husband charged with internet harassment

Staff report

NEW CASTLE, PA.

A man is charged with stalking and harassing his ex-wife after he posted an ad for sex toys on the Internet that included her name and cell phone number, Shenango Township Police say.

Police said Michael DeMatteo, 39, was arrested at his Vance Road residence Tuesday. He was also charged with unlawful use of a computer, criminal use of communication facility and disorderly conduct.

Police said they were contacted by the woman, 33, in May 2011.

She was receiving harassing telephone calls on her cell phone at all hours, police said.

The callers asked about sex acts and sex toys and made threats toward her and her family, they said.

The victim also reported that numerous times while there were children playing in her yard, men would drive past her house and yell vulgarities. An Internet search was conducted using the victim’s name, and it was discovered that an advertisement had been created on “Superpages.com” using the victim’s name, home address and home and cell phone numbers, police said. The ad was for sex toys and adult parties.

Police served search warrants on Superpages, Comcast, and a business in Ohio. The advertisement was created from an IP address from that business, where DeMatteo is employed, police said.

DeMatteo was taken to the Lawrence County Jail in lieu of $5,000 bond. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for April 19 in Lawrence County Central Court.