Kevin LaShawn Grooms, Jr., Cyberstalking, West Virginia 2015

Ex-Marshall Athlete Sentenced in Federal Court

Huntington, West Virginia - March 24, 2015

Kevin LaShawn Grooms, Jr., a 23-year-old former Marshall University football running back from Hollywood, Florida, pleaded guilty in federal court to cyberstalking, announced United States Attorney Booth Goodwin.

Grooms, who was under a Domestic Violence Protection Order at the time, sent threatening messages to his ex-girlfriend via Instagram and text. The messages consisted of photographs and attached messages that mocked the strength of domestic restraining orders, threatened his ex-girlfriend, and claimed his readiness to die.

According to the investigation conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Grooms sent 158 messages to his ex-girlfriend within 8 hours of being released from the Western Regional Jail on March 24, 2015. Grooms met his ex-girlfriend in September 2012, when they were both enrolled at Marshall University.

Grooms admitted to engaging in a pattern of activity including stalking, threatening the use of a deadly weapon, harassing, and assaulting his ex-girlfriend throughout their relationship.

The court scheduled a sentencing hearing for Grooms on December 14, 2015. He faces a prison sentence of two years, followed by three years of supervised release, and a maximum fine of $250,000.

U.S. Attorney Booth Goodwin stated, “We are committed to working closely with our law enforcement partners to identify and prosecute those who use modern technology to stalk, threaten, and harass. Technology is wonderful but we will not allow it to be used as a dangerous weapon.”

The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Huntington Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Lisa Johnston handled the prosecution.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdwv/pr/former-marshall-university-football-running-back-pleads-guilty-cyberstalking