A former candidate for Hillsdale County Commissioner and a local social media activist are free on bond following their arrest for allegedly harassing a woman via posts on social media.
52 year-old Kelly Mapes, of Allen, and 50 year-old Joseph Hendee, of Hillsdale, were arrested Saturday on felony warrants for Unlawfully Posting A Message.
The arrests follow an investigation by the Hillsdale County Sheriff’s office into incidents that occurred in July.
An anonymous source tells WCSR News, authorities were alerted by the victim, who claimed she was harassed in a number of posts on Facebook.
The victim had apparently attempted to uncover information about Mape’s employment status, as Mapes was running her unsuccessful campaign for the Hillsdale County Commissioners’ seat in District Three.
Authorities claim the malicious posts were retaliatory.
Hendee, who is a regular at local public meetings is also a well-known commenter on social media posts regarding local political issues.
Both Hendee and Mapes are free on $2,500 bond.
Under Michigan law, a social media post that “makes the victim feel terrorized, frightened, intimidated, threatened, harassed, or molested” is considered a crime–Unlawfully Posting A Message is a felony–punishable by up to two years in prison and $5,000 in fines.