A Fort Wayne man faces multiple felonies after his ex-girlfriend accused him of a pattern of stalking that allegedly culminated in an armed threat against the woman's new beau.
Police say James E. Lawson, 21, harassed his ex-girlfriend and people close to her for nearly a year, starting in August 2011, according to Allen County court documents. The alleged stalking included dozens of unwelcome Facebook posts and personal visits to the woman with guns and knives, the documents said.
Lawson, 6106 Blue Spruce Court, faces two felony counts of stalking, along with felony counts of criminal recklessness and pointing a firearm. He was being held Tuesday on $32,500 bond, according to the documents.
In one of the most recent examples, Lawson allegedly showed up at the home of the woman's new boyfriend on the afternoon of May 6. When the boyfriend answered the door, Lawson allegedly pointed a loaded pump-action shotgun at the man's chest and "racked the slide," the documents said.
After a brief struggle for the shotgun, the boyfriend told police, Lawson lowered the weapon and asked for his ex-girlfriend, who was upstairs, before fleeing. He later expressed regret for his actions in a text message to the other man's brother, the documents said.
In January, Lawson allegedly pulled a box cutter on the woman after following her throughout Fort Wayne, the documents said. And in separate incidents in fall 2011, he allegedly fired shots with a .22 caliber rifle into a house while the woman was inside and asked to speak with her at another property while armed with a hunting knife.
Overall, the woman called police at least 17 times between August 2011 and May 7 in reference to alleged theft, vandalism and unwanted contact by Lawson, according to the documents.
The woman also provided police with more than 47 pages showing at least 160 unwanted Facebook posts from Lawson, the documents said. In the posts, Lawson allegedly admitted to stealing a gas cap from the woman's car and offered her $100 to have lunch with him.
Lawson allegedly kept messaging his ex-girlfriend on Facebook through July 21, even though she got protective orders against him on May 9 and July 9, the documents said.
According to court records, Lawson also is charged with felony invasion of privacy in a separate but related case. His next court hearing in that case is scheduled for Aug. 29.
