Kimberly Ann Brischle, Cyberstalking and Arson, Washington 2021

Post Falls Woman Gets 30 Months for Cyberstalking Ex-Boyfriend and Setting His Home on Fire

Spokane, Washington – In a shocking case of cyberstalking and arson, Kimberly Ann Brischle, 56, of Post Falls, Idaho, was sentenced to 30 months in federal prison. Brischle pleaded guilty in May 2022 and has been in federal custody since July 2021.

According to court documents, Brischle began sending her ex-boyfriend a series of threatening text messages in April 2021. The next day, Brischle broke into her ex-boyfriend’s home in Spokane, while her ex-boyfriend was away on business. Brischle damaged property in the home and started a fire in a bedroom closet. The Spokane Fire Department responded to extinguish the fire, and investigators determined that the fire had been set intentionally.

For the next several months, Brischle used online applications to obscure her identity while she continued to send her ex-boyfriend threatening and harassing texts and emails. In one message, she claimed to have paid another person to torture and mutilate him and to kill his dog.

“In the information age, Internet stalking has become a significant problem that crosses state and international boundaries and subjects innocent people to serious harassment,” said Vanessa R. Waldref, the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington. “As this case demonstrates, the line between online activity and real-world consequences can become blurry for some—and frankly, it is a miracle and a relief that no one was hurt by the fire in this case.”

Brischle was also ordered to pay more than $175,000 in restitution for the damages arising from the fire. She will serve three years of federal supervised release after she gets out of prison.

This case was investigated by the Spokane Resident Office of the ATF, with significant assistance from the Spokane Fire Department Special Investigations Unit, the Spokane Police Department, and the Kalispel Tribal Police. The case was prosecuted by Timothy J. Ohms, Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington.

“Arson is a heinous crime that has broad impacts, not only on those who are directly affected, but because of the risk it presents to the community as a whole,” said ATF Seattle Field Division Special Agent in Charge Jonathan T. McPherson. “This sentence should deter anyone who contemplates engaging in the destructive, cowardly act of setting someone’s home on fire.”

Brischle’s exact criminal charges include cyberstalking and arson. The city and state where the crime occurred are Spokane, Washington.

The exact date of the crime was April 2021.

The sentence was handed down on an unspecified date, but Brischle has been in federal custody since July 2021.

Brischle will serve 30 months in prison for her crimes.

The restitution amount is over $175,000.

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