A former Marine residing in Orange County has been sentenced to two years in prison for engaging in a relentless cyberbullying campaign against a professional online gamer. Evan Baltierra, aged 30 and from Trabuco Canyon, was also ordered to serve three years of supervised release upon his release from prison. Additionally, he is required to pay $2,544 in restitution to the victim. These legal actions were taken following Baltierra’s guilty plea to one count of stalking in a Los Angeles court last year.
The harassment began after Baltierra, during a convention in Anaheim in November 2019, met the victim, a widely recognized player of the popular game “World of Warcraft.” Feeling uneasy about Baltierra, the victim blocked him on her social media accounts. Undeterred, Baltierra proceeded to create numerous new accounts to send the gamer threatening messages and spammed her online video game stream. Prosecutors revealed that one disturbing message sent via Twitter in January 2021 ominously stated that Baltierra was “waiting for the right opportunity.”
In a disturbing turn of events, court documents revealed that in October 2020, Baltierra enlisted an unidentified individual to manipulate explicit images of the victim by superimposing her face onto pornographic images. Between November 2020 and March 2022, Baltierra shared these photoshopped nude images on numerous pornographic websites and internet forums. He even went so far as to send the images to the victim’s friends and family. To further perpetrate his malicious intent, Baltierra posted links to the images on various social media platforms, encouraging others to search for the woman’s name to view the explicit content.
Prosecutors noted in a sentencing memorandum their concern over Baltierra’s persistent criminal behavior and his disregard for multiple opportunities to cease his actions. Even after a restraining order was issued in March and April of 2021, Baltierra continued to harass the victim and make attempts to contact her. Alarmingly, even after a protective order was served, he persisted in posting the victim’s personal information on social media platforms and during her live video game streams.
Baltierra’s tactics extended beyond cyberbullying. In June 2021, despite having reached a settlement with the victim that prohibited any contact with her or her loved ones, Baltierra dialed the local police department and deceitfully claimed that the woman had made online threats of suicide. During the call, he also sought to acquire her home address. As a result, the police conducted a welfare check on the victim at her residence.
Between January and March of 2022, Baltierra continued his campaign of intimidation by sending threatening messages to the victim through various social media accounts. One message chillingly stated, “get a casket ready.” Furthermore, Baltierra composed a letter to the victim’s boyfriend’s parents, insinuating that the situation would end unfavorably for her.
In light of the severity and persistence of Baltierra’s actions, he has been sentenced to imprisonment and supervised release. This case serves as a stark reminder of the dangers and impact of online harassment, and the consequences it can carry in the eyes of the law.
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