When Lee Stranahan and Aaron Walker sought the assistance of Howard County, Maryland, in protecting their families from online harassment by Bill Schmalfeldt, they were told that by the State’s Attorney’s Office that no charges would be brought against Schmalfeldt. Further, the Walkers were told

If you’re so concerned for your safety, stay out of Maryland

Stay off the Internet if you don’t want to be harassed.

I found such a response to be appalling, and organized an Everyone Blog About the Howard County State’s Attorney Day. The following post ran six years ago today.

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Tomorrow is Everyone Blog About the Howard County State’s Attorney Day. If you’re going to participate, let me know via a comment, tweet, or email so that I can link to your post on Monday.

Do these two statement accurately reflect the policies of the Howard County, Maryland, State’s Attorney’s Office?

If you’re so concerned for your safety, stay out of Maryland

Stay off the Internet if you don’t want to be harassed.

They are the sorts of things that were told to the Stranahan and Walker families when the sought help in dealing with Internet harassment and stalking. Hogwash! is encouraging other bloggers to contact State’s Attorney Dario J. Broccolino (contact info and more details here) for clarification and to post the answers received along with any commentary tomorrow on Everyone Blog About the Howard County State’s Attorney Day.

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A year later, I sought help from the Howard County State’s Attorney in dealing with Schmalfeldt’s online harassment. The following post ran five years ago today.

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This morning I met with an Assistant State’s Attorney from the Howard County State’s Attorney’s Office. The subject of our meeting was the disposition of the charge of failure to obey a peace order against Bill Schmalfeldt.

My meeting had certain similarities and certain differences compared to the meetings concerning Bill Schmalfeldt that Aaron Walker and Lee Stranahan had with that office.

The principal difference was that the prosecutor was polite and respectful of me. His conduct was at all times professional.

The principal similarity was that the decision to drop the charge had been irrevocably taken before the meeting. This is troubling because the purpose of the meeting was to provide evidence not contained in the charging document so that a proper decision could be made. Evidence apparently was to have no bearing on the disposition of the case.

I am disappointed.

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<sarc>I’m sure there was my publicly questioning the HoCo State’s Attorney’s policies concerning online harassment had no effect on the Office’s handling of my case.</sarc>