Working as an advocate for domestic violence victims and being a child welfare advocate I have witnessed and experienced a multitude of heartbreaking circumstances. Unfortunately, sometimes when you take a stand against perpetrators of violence, they turn their attention on you.
In the coming weeks I expect that a man convicted of felony cyberstalking and communicating threats against me will be released from prison. Because of this, I feel inclined to notify my supporters and community about a series of incidents that resulted in him being charged and subsequently convicted. While I have been hesitant to share such a painful chapter in my life with the public, I also realize that if I am to ask the voters in the 37th District to put their trust in me, then I should put my trust in them. You, and all the people in the district deserve to know the truth about this individual and how he sought to terrorize and intimidate me. I will not be silenced.
Several years ago, I represented the mother of this individual’s child. After the losing his appeal, he turned his anger squarely on me. He began inundating me with hundreds of emails and sued me, and many other professionals, in federal court. His unrelenting harassment was concerning and caused me distress. However, in June 2014 after his federal appeal was dismissed, his behavior toward me became menacing. In July 2014 he called my office and impersonated an FBI agent stating that I was going to be arrested.
Shortly after that, I received an email graphically describing how he planned to rape me and the other violent crimes he planned to commit against me. In August 2017 he emailed me again and threatened to harm my family and me. My husband and I took immediate action, fearing that he would harm my family and my children. We added additional security measures at our home and office. Due to his threat to my family, I had to ensure their safety by providing their school with the defendant’s picture, informing the preschool that my children could be at risk and to call the police if he showed up on the school premises.
After receiving these threatening emails, I was terrified. I became distraught and remained alert whenever I left my office, home, or was in public. Until his arrest, I was constantly looking for him so that I would not be caught off guard. Given his prior criminal history I had every reason to believe that he would carry through with his threats.
For those reasons, this week, I have asked the court to impose the strictest sentence against him and to order that he not have any contact with me or my family.
I want my supporters and my community to have knowledge of these events before he is released from prison because I feel you have a right to know. I am so thankful to the law enforcement community, the judicial system and the United States Attorneys that have advocated for me throughout this process. I would also like to thank my family and close friends that have been supportive to me through this ordeal. With that said, I will continue to advocate for victims of violence. I will not be deterred by him or others who prey on people’s fear and vulnerability. I hope to have your continued support and I look forward to discussing my positions on policies that I believe will make North Carolina a stronger, healthier and better educated place to call home.
Sincerely,
Sydney Batch