North Kingstown man sentenced to three years for threatening Massachusetts professor

August 5, 2020 9:05 pm

BOSTON (WLNE)– A North Kingstown man received a three-year sentence in federal prison on Wednesday for a string of violent and threatening emails sent to a Massachusetts professor in 2019.

Matthew Haviland, 30, pleaded guilty in September 2019 to one count of stalking and two counts of transmitting a threat in interstate commerce related to 28 emails sent over a span of several hours on March 19 of that year.

Federal prosecutors said the professor had been targeted because of published writing and speech that defended abortion rights.

The emails included threats such as: “You will be held accountable for every f****** baby you murdered through your horrible deception of they are not humans” and “You will have your face ripped off and eaten by me, personally. I will enjoy raping your body after you’re dead. And that will only be the start.”, according to evidence presented in court.

In addition to a prison sentence, Haviland will be required to undergo three years of supervised release.

“The Constitution protects everyone’s right to free speech, but there is a hard line between free speech and the stalking and harassment committed in this case. My office will enforce that line,” said U.S. Attorney Andrew Lelling. “Today’s sentence affirms that these are serious crimes that warrant punishment.”