A federal appeals court has upheld the conviction of a man found guilty of stalking a New Hampshire teenager.
David Ackell, 49, of Seekonk, Massachusetts, was found guilty in 2016 after he maintained contact with a teen after she repeatedly told him she no longer wanted to be in a relationship. He also threatened to release partially nude photos of the girl if she broke off contact with him.
Ackell appealed his conviction, arguing that the federal stalking laws violated his freedom of speech, and that the evidence presented by prosecutors was insufficient.
The First Circuit Court of Appeals unanimously rejected that argument. Ackell will serve a 33-month prison sentence.
