⏱ 2 min read
Christopher Martin Herr, a 33-year-old Norfolk man, plead guilty to attempted witness tampering after a disturbing series of events that began on May 3, 2025. On that day, Herr called his ex-girlfriend, Jane Doe, dozens of times, leaving voicemails in which he threatened to kill her, murder her boyfriend, and assault her father. The harassment continued over the next few months, with Herr sending threatening messages and even showing up at Jane Doe’s apartment in Virginia Beach.
On December 19, 2025, Herr took his attempts to intimidate Jane Doe to a new level by contacting a relative who was an officer with the Norfolk Police Department. He asked the relative to arrange for Jane Doe’s arrest for a DUI, providing detailed information about her vehicle and whereabouts. The relative declined Herr’s request, but he continued to try to manipulate the situation, contacting another relative who worked in law enforcement on January 9.
Herr’s actions ultimately caught up with him, and he was charged with attempted witness tampering. He plead guilty to the charge and is now facing up to 20 years in prison. His sentencing is scheduled for November 19, and a federal district court judge will determine his sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The case was investigated by the FBI’s Norfolk Field Office, with Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Nikolas Nelson and Assistant U.S. Attorney Rebecca Gantt prosecuting the case. The guilty plea was accepted by U.S. Magistrate Judge Lawrence R. Leonard.
📋 Key Facts
- Crime: Violent Crime
- Defendant: Virginia
- Location: VA
- Source: DOJ Press Release
