An Ohio man has been sentenced to over three years in prison after harassing actress Eva LaRue and her daughter for 12 years. said he threatened to rape her.
Judge John A. Kronstadt of the United States District Court for the Central District of California on Thursday sentenced James David Rogers to 40 months in prison. “Terrorized his mother and daughter.”
Mr. Rogers, 58, pleaded guilty on April 28 to “two counts of sending threatening emails, one count of threatening by interstate wire, and two counts of stalking.” California Central District U.S. Attorney’s Office.
LaRue is best known for her roles as DNA analyst Natalia Boa Vista on the crime series CSI: Miami and Maria Santos on the soap opera All My Children. Her daughter, Kaya Callahan, was just five years old when the threats against her began, according to her court documents. She is 20 years old now. Mr. Rogers also wrote a threatening letter to LaRue’s partner at the time.
Lawyers believed to be Mr. Rogers’ lawyers and Mr. Larue’s representatives did not respond to requests for comment.
In March 2007, Mr. Rogers began sending threatening letters to his family and continued to stalk him until he was arrested in November 2019. He signed many letters under the name Freddy Krueger, the fictional serial killer from the horror film A Nightmare on Elm Street.
In a letter, he wrote, “I want your life to be more miserable than you can bear,” according to court documents. “You must be so scared,” another reads.
According to court documents, the family moved several times in the hope that Mr. Rogers would never find the address again.
“They took a detour home, slept with their weapons nearby, and discussed how to quickly seek help if the defendant found a weapon and attempted to harm them,” prosecutors said. .
According to court documents, Mr. Rogers called the school Ms. Callahan attended 18 times in October and November 2019, often pretending to be her father, asking about her whereabouts. In another incident, he left voice messages at the school with vulgar threats, identifying himself under the pseudonym of a serial killer.
When he was arrested a few weeks later, his call records had been wiped. But the phone was registered to the same number he called the school, prosecutors said. There was also a photo of Lalou and his daughter.
According to court documents, Mr. Rogers worked as a nursing assistant at a nursing home until his arrest. He said he was taking care of his mother.
According to court documents, Mr. Rogers said he had a troubled relationship with his parents, struggled in school and grew up a social outcast. The official said the FBI had determined the allegations were false. He said he was receiving mental health treatment at the time of sentencing. CNN reported.
Former FBI An agent told CNN, Rogers said:He was indicted in 2019. Authorities told CNN they used DNA left in discarded straws to place him, leading to his arrest.
Genetic genealogy has been used to solve many high-profile cases in recent years, including identifying Joseph James DeAngelo as the Golden State Killer in 2018.
Rogers apologized to LaRue via video conference at Thursday’s sentencing. CNN reported.
“I am very worried about what will happen if he leaves,” Lalou said in a statement on the impact on victims. According to CNN.
“I was afraid for my life” her daughter Said.
The FBI investigated the case and charged the Violence and Organized Crime Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office.