ANDOVER — A husband and wife from Andover, arrested while jogging yesterday morning, have been accused of directing an online harassment scheme against a neighbor with whom they were having a land dispute.
William and Gail Johnson of 36 High Vale Lane were arraigned yesterday in Lawrence District Court. Each face charges of criminal harassment, conspiracy, identity fraud, and filing a frivolous report of child abuse.
Fabricated reports to the state Department of Social Services and phony online advertisements containing personal information were some of the tactics allegedly used to target James Lyons Jr., a resident of 12 High Vale Lane and a neighbor of the Johnsons.
Prosecutors with the Essex district attorney's office said yesterday that the harassment directed toward Lyons was related to a land dispute involving the Johnsons.
William Johnson, 50, was ordered held on $2,000 cash bail and Gail Johnson, also 50, was ordered held on $1,000 cash bail yesterday.
Also implicated in the harassment case is Lowell resident Gerald Colton, 55, who was arraigned in June on charges of identity fraud and stalking.
Colton is a longtime friend of both William and Gail Johnson, according to police reports.
In April, state and local authorities confiscated three computers from Colton's apartment and paperwork listing Lyons' name and those of his family members, his Social Security number, e-mail addresses, phone numbers, fax numbers and business locations.
Lyons owns Dandi-Lyons, an ice cream and flower shop with several area locations.
Lyons first contacted Andover police on March 18, after postings on the Web site Craigslist.org listed his name, address and phone numbers. The initial posting, an advertisement for the sale of nine used golf carts, attracted potential buyers to Lyons' home, according to Assistant District Attorney Maura Officer.
After the posting was taken off the Web site, it appeared again the next day, along with a new post advertising the sale of a 1973 Harley-Davidson motorcycle for $300, Officer said.
The posting claimed the motorcycle belonged to Lyons' "late son," a statement Lyons believed was a threat directed at one of his two sons, ages 13 and 14, Officer said.
According to police reports, e-mails referencing both the golf cart and motorcycle sales were linked to Colton's computer, along with an e-mail sent to Lyons that read, "Remember, if you aren't miserable, I ain't happy! Let's play."
On March 27, Lyons reported to police that someone had attempted to open up bank accounts using his personal information. He also reported that someone had signed him up as a member of the Florida-based American Association for Nude Recreation.
Also on March 27, Andover police responded to Lyons' home at 10:50 p.m., after two state social services workers requested to speak with his 14-year-old son over a report that he "inappropriately touched a female student at school," according to police reports.
The report, which wound up coming from a false name and address, also claimed that Lyons physically assaulted his son and made him dress up in his sisters' clothing.
The alleged harassment continued on April 5, when Lyons received a letter from BioGift Anatomical Inc. stating that he had already expressed his interest in "donating his body for medical science when he passes away," a statement Lyons considered a "direct threat on his life," Officer said.
Also in April, local health boards visited Dandi-Lyons stores in Tewksbury and Reading after receiving letters alleging customers there became sick after eating ice cream.
On April 12, Lyons was sent a letter implicating him in a past case of molestation by a fictionalized former employee, according to police reports. Lyons, accompanied by his wife yesterday, declined comment after the arraignment.
William and Gail Johnson will appear in District Court on Nov. 19 for a pretrial hearing.
Both graduated from Tewksbury High School and have been married for 24 years, according to Susan McNeil, Gail Johnson's defense attorney. McNeil said Gail Johnson works in real estate development with her husband.
In defense of William Johnson, attorney Ron Ranta said all computer forensics obtained by police points to Colton.
"This is an extremely strong case against Mr. Colton," Ranta said.
