Washington man charged with cyberstalking former girlfriend

KENNEWICK, Wash. (AP) — A Burbank man has been charged with cyberstalking in connection to text messages he sent his former girlfriend.

The Yakima Herald-Republic reports that police say James Bateman sent more than 150 threatening text messages, including a picture of a pistol, to his former girlfriend and threatened to post a video online of the woman in a compromising position if she did not break up with her current boyfriend.

He has pleaded not guilty in Benton Superior Court.

Officials say the woman met with investigators in July and showed them her cellphone, which had messages from Bateman threatening her current boyfriend and the victim.

Bateman is out of custody after posting bond on $10,000. His trial is scheduled for Nov. 16.