A former United Airlines pilot has been sentenced to five years in prison for Internet stalking after being convicted by a jury in a short trial. Mark Joseph Uhlenbrock, 69, from suburban St. Louis, was found guilty of posting online nude photos of his ex-girlfriend from San Antonio. This is the third time that Uhlenbrock is sentenced to prison for similar crimes involving the same woman. He was also given an additional one-year sentence for violating the terms of his earlier release. These sentences will run consecutively. Uhlenbrock has been in custody since late 2020 for violating the terms of his earlier release and will receive credit for time served. He is also required to serve three years of supervised release and pay the woman US$4,700 for medical costs.
Prosecutors had asked U.S. District Judge Xavier Rodriguez to sentence Uhlenbrock to seven years in prison. In their argument, they stated that Uhlenbrock “has weaponised the Internet to destroy one woman’s life”. Assistant US Attorney William Calve emphasized that Uhlenbrock would continue to harm the victim if given the opportunity.
The victim, whose identity remains undisclosed due to San Antonio Express-News policy, shared with the judge the extent of the damage that Uhlenbrock has caused in her life. She expressed her desire to reclaim her life after years of suffering as a result of his actions.
Shannon Locke, Uhlenbrock’s defense attorney, argued for a prison term of 59 months, citing his client’s health complications and increased vulnerability to COVID-19 while incarcerated. Uhlenbrock himself admitted to having a “terrible addiction” that drove him to commit these acts.
The original case dates back to when Uhlenbrock and the victim were both working at United Airlines. They entered into a romantic relationship, during which the victim sent him intimate pictures. Uhlenbrock later posted these images on swinger and pornographic websites without her permission. Despite previous civil injunctions against him, he continued to harass the victim and maintained control over her life. The victim sued Uhlenbrock multiple times, ultimately receiving settlements and court-ordered damages.
In 2015, an FBI investigation led to the indictment of Uhlenbrock. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 41 months in prison and three years of supervised release. However, he violated the terms of his release multiple times, leading to further sentences and legal consequences.
Prosecutors characterized Uhlenbrock’s actions as a “vendetta” against the victim that persisted even after his previous convictions. The victim eventually contacted the FBI when she discovered that he had once again posted images of her online. In June 2020, Uhlenbrock was indicted for Internet stalking and found guilty after a trial that lasted less than 20 minutes.
In addition to his legal troubles, a lawsuit was filed against United Airlines by the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in 2018, claiming that the airline failed to protect the victim from harassment and a hostile work environment. In 2019, the airline agreed to pay the victim US$321,000 to settle the case.
The sentence imposed on Uhlenbrock serves as a consequence for his repeated offenses and an effort to mitigate the harm he has caused to his victim.
Credit: The Star : News Feed
