Robert McLaughlin, 62, sits in the Mahoning County Jail, having already pleaded guilty to stalking a Canfield woman for months -- a woman authorities say knew McLaughlin as a family friend and even a "father figure."
But that's only the beginning.
Police said the victim started receiving anonymous e-mails last spring. Initially the woman -- who's a local school teacher -- suspected an ex-boyfriend.
Then the alleged harassment increased and became even more bizarre.
Assistant Mahoning County Prosecutor Nick Modarelli said McLaughlin was "sending pornographic fliers out, advertising that our victim had certain sexual 'proclivities'."
Modarelli said the fliers and cards were being sent to local school districts, government offices and even area bars and taverns, the victim never making any connection with McLaughlin.
Modarelli said the victim had actually been "confiding in him about everyday occurrences."
Finally last month, police were able to obtain information from a French Internet company indicating McLaughlin had been using what's known as a proxy server to send his e-mails.
When they searched McLaughlin's house in Painesville, they found photos of the victim, dozens of guns, pornography and computer equipment.
"You could see where he was searching for addresses for establishments, school districts, individuals," said Modarelli.
Police said when they told the victim about McLaughlin, she couldn't believe it thinking this was the last person she'd have suspected.
Authorities believe the suspect would have continued sending out his obscene and sexually graphic fliers and cards, saying they seized address labels and envelopes and hundreds of dollars of postage stamps from his house.
This week he was indicted by a Mahoning County grand jury on pandering obscenity and possession of criminal tools charges. He's due back in court early next month.
