
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, May 27, 1994                   TAG: 9405270125
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press Note: below
DATELINE: DEARBORN HEIGHTS, MICH.                                 LENGTH: Short

STALKING VIA COMPUTER?

Andy Archambeau wooed the woman of his dreams by e-mail, sending her computer messages saying, "Good morning, beautiful" and invitations to rendezvous in the Bahamas.

Now Archambeau has been charged with breaking Michigan's anti-stalking law for continuing to send computer messages after the woman and police told him to stop.

The American Civil Liberties Union is considering defending him, saying there appeared to be no real threat to the woman.

But some computer experts say there is no difference between stalking someone physically and electronically.

"He makes it sound like he was being a romantic. But it was very, very spooky," said the 29-year-old woman, who spoke on condition her name not be used.

The woman got worried when Archambeau left a message on her answering machine, telling her he had secretly watched her leave work. She filed a police report.

Archambeau was arrested and charged May 4. If convicted of the misdemeanor offense, he could be jailed for one year or fined $1,000.

A pretrial hearing is scheduled for June 15.

by CNB