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November 6, 2002
Criminal charges filed against e-mail hoaxer
(SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- An 18-year-old South Carolina
man was arrested Wednesday for allegedly sending threatening
e-mails about the Elizabeth Smart kidnapping case.
Kenneth
Holloway, of Charleston, S.C, allegedly used the screen name
"elisabethsmartkidnapper" and contacted law enforcement
and the Smart family several times, the FBI said. In the e-mails,
he allegedly demanded money for Elizabeth's return.
He is
not considered a suspect in the kidnapping.
Elizabeth,
then 14, disappeared from her bedroom June 5. Her
9-year-old sister, the sole witness, told police a gunman abducted
Elizabeth around 1 a.m.
The FBI in Salt Lake City traced the e-mails to Holloway's home.
On Tuesday, authorities searched his house and seized three
computer systems and other evidence. Holloway was arrested without
incident Wednesday morning, the FBI said.
He is accused of interstate extortion and sending threatening
communications across state lines.
"Although Mr. Holloway is not considered a suspect in the
kidnapping of Elizabeth Smart, he is charged with committing
a serious crime in connection with that investigation,"
said FBI special agent James Burrus. "Mr. Holloway's criminal
conduct diverted valuable investigative resources from the investigation
and has re-victimized the Smart family."
(Copyright 2002 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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