Bringhurst Man Sentenced to 36 Months in Prison For Cyberstalking

SOUTH BEND - Caleb Bonnell, 20 years old, of Bringhurst, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Cristal C. Brisco after pleading guilty to cyberstalking, announced United States Attorney Adam L. Mildred.

Bonnell was sentenced to 36 months in prison followed by 2 years of supervised release.

"The Defendant terrorized the victim and the victim's family member using cyberstalking and swatting, which are abuses of human beings through the use of technology. The Defendant will spend some time in jail to think about his vicious choices. From September 2025 through December 2025, the Defendant used various electronic devices to harass and intimidate the victim and the victim's family member. The Defendant sent hundreds of unwanted text messages, emailed the victim's school several times, sent over seventy social media messages to the victim's classmates, and made a threatening statement about the victim on an online application. The Defendant also "swatted" the victim's residence by making false reports to law enforcement, which caused officers to dispatch to the victim's home. Technology has the potential greatly serve the public and improve our lives. Here, the Defendant used it for deplorable means and has been punished for it thanks to the combined efforts of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with assistance from the Caroll County Police Department and the San Diego Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lydia T. Lucius, and we are safer for their combined efforts," said U.S. Attorney Adam Mildred.

"Technology has made it easier for criminals to target victims, but it has not changed the serious consequences of these crimes," said FBI Indianapolis Special Agent in Charge Timothy J. O'Malley. "Cyberstalking and swatting are dangerous offenses that can terrorize victims, strain public safety resources, and place both innocent people and responding officers at unnecessary risk. The FBI is committed to investigating these crimes and ensuring those who use the internet to threaten or intimidate others are brought to justice."

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with assistance from the Caroll County Police Department and the San Diego Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lydia T. Lucius.