Waxhaw resident Timothy Gallagher pleaded guilty Tuesday, Sept. 15, to one count of cyberstalking and one count of identity theft targeting Union County Commissioner Melissa Merrell.
A judge in a Monroe district court sentenced Gallagher to one year of supervised probation and 100 hours of community service, The Enquirer Journal reported. Before sentencing, Gallagher read a letter of apology to Merrell and her family.
Merrell called the ordeal one of the most horrific experiences of her life, according to the Enquirer Journal.
Roots in school board COVID disputes
The harassment began when Merrell served on the Union County Board of Education, before she became a county commissioner. The case grew out of disagreements over COVID-19 school policies, the Enquirer Journal reported.
Gallagher targeted Merrell with fraudulent home sale listings and other forms of harassment, according to the report.
Merrell now serves on the Union County Board of Commissioners. The guilty plea closes the criminal case.
