Two charged over Internet postings

In more fallout from a long-running dispute on the Jefferson County Web Board, two Watertown men were charged with harassment and stalking Thursday for allegedly posting negative comments about a South Colton man on the Internet.

Michael J. DeFranco, 50, of 107 Court St., Apt. 156, and Joseph P. Sweet, 32, address not available, were each charged by state police with second-degree aggravated harassment and fourth-degree stalking.

The charges stemmed from a complaint brought by Jon C. Sabin, who complained that the men had posted harassing comments about him, as well as his picture, on Web sites. Further information was not available Thursday from state police.

Mr. DeFranco's attorney, Eric T. Swartz, called Mr. Sabin's complaint "a misuse of the court system."

"I can't believe they arrested this guy," he said.

Mr. Swartz said that while a person can harass a person electronically or over the phone, he is at a loss to explain how a stalking charge was lodged.

"I don't know how you can stalk someone when you're a hundred miles away and you've never seen each other," Mr. Swartz said.

Mr. DeFranco, who owns and operates Computer Doctor, 104 Franklin St., was charged April 9 with second-degree harassment for allegedly punching Matthew M. Shoen, 33, of 6489 County Route 92, Lorraine, who was attempting to serve Mr. DeFranco papers on Mr. Sabin's behalf on March 26.

According to Mr. Shoen's statement to Watertown police, as Mr. DeFranco reached for papers with his left hand, he punched him in the lip with his right hand. He then allegedly punched Mr. Shoen with his left hand and then pushed him into a wall.

Mr. DeFranco told police he never punched Mr. Shoen, only that he put his hands on the other man to steady him. Mr. DeFranco said that when he asked Mr. Shoen "if he was Jon Sabin," Mr. Shoen nodded affirmatively and "mumbled something."

Mr. DeFranco contends that when he rose abruptly from a chair, Mr. Shoen "hit the door and spun to the left of the door," prompting Mr. DeFranco to help him up and then keep his hands on Mr. Shoen's shoulders as he left the business.

Mr. DeFranco and Mr. Sabin have been feuding since March, when Mr. DeFranco intervened in an online dispute on the Jefferson County Web board between Mr. Sabin and a Chaumont businessman.

Mr. Sabin claimed Mr. DeFranco had put negative references about him on Computer Doctor's Web site. Mr. Shoen was at Mr. DeFranco's business March 26 to serve the cease and desist letter, which contained no seal, stamp or affirmation from a court. The document demanded that Mr. DeFranco remove negative references to Mr. Sabin's blog or face court action.

"I don't see how you can serve a cease and desist letter that's signed by yourself, and not a judge," Mr. Swartz said.

Mr. DeFranco and Mr. Sweet are due to answer the charges Tuesday in Colton Town Court.