An Arizona woman was brought to New Jersey last week to face charges she stalked and harassed a Hammonton woman and the woman's juvenile son online.
Christine Merlo-Kline, 48, of Cave Creek, Arizona, used "social media and other computer devices to monitor and harass repeatedly" Theresa Macri and her juvenile son on at least four separate occasions over three years, according to the charges.
Merlo-Kline was indicted last year on the fourth-degree crimes of stalking and cyber harassment, acting Atlantic County Prosecutor Diane Ruberton said Wednesday.
The stalking charge claims Merlo-Kline engaged "in a course of conduct directed at Macri that would cause a reasonable person to fear for her safety or the safety of a third person or suffer emotional distress."
The cyber harassment charge indicates that while communicating through electronic device or social networking site with the purpose of harassment "did knowingly send, post, comment, request, suggest or propose... lewd, indecent obscene material ... with purpose to emotionally harm a reasonable person or place a reasonable person in fear of physical or emotional harm."
Merlo-Kline was arrested in Maricopa County, Arizona, on Sept. 16, and extradition proceedings ended Dec. 29
On Tuesday, she was arraigned before Superior Court Judge Patricia Wild, and her bail was set at $2,500 cash or bond. If released, she is not allowed to leave the state, use computers or post on social media, and cannot have contact with the victims.
She is due back in court Feb. 14.
