Wisconsin man "banned from Internet" after Craigslist prank

[Hum]

A Wisconsin man has been "banned from the Internet" by a judge after he posted a fake Craigslist ad inviting men over to his neighbor's house for sex.

"That's the punishment for 31-year-old Jason Willis of Waterford for ... urging strangers to show up at his neighbors house for sex. Apparently several people showed up at the woman's doorstep, one person reportedly wearing just a coat and nothing else," WDJT reports.

Willis claims the posts were a prank, although Uproxx notes the Craigslist ads contained dangerous personal information: "his neighbor's full name, address, and even pictures."

His neighbor, whom WISN identified only as "Dawn," said Willis' prank still haunts her.

"It's been about a year and a half, but I'm still nervous as to who is coming to my door, why they are coming to my door."

Willis has been sentenced to 30 months on probation, and must remain disconnected from the Internet during that time or face 18 months in prison. The judge called Willis' actions: "unconscionable," saying: "You were mean to your neighbor. In the worst possible way. Without any benefit,' the Journal Times reports.

The judge later told WTMJ Willis used the Web like a weapon, and the Internet ban is meant to disarm him.

"If you want to drive drunk, you're not allowed to drive! To me, a public availability of the internet, to use it the way he did, is unconscionable. Everybody knows it's wrong. He knew it was wrong. He admitted it."

Willis has 30 days to disconnect his Internet before the ban kicks in.

source

[madd-hatter]

There is no elaboration as to how they plan on enforcing the ban, basically meaning it won't happen. Ceasing to have an account with his local provider doesn't mean much.

 

But whatever, why not just sentence him to jail? I thought imprisonment was the west's idea of deterrence. Instead this...? What a joke.

[Hum]

The threat of jail is being held over him:

 

... sentenced to 30 months on probation, and must remain disconnected from the Internet during that time or face 18 months in prison

 

 

 

They could possibly check local ISPs to see if there is any new service to his specific address.

 

They could randomly search his home for any computers.

[LimeMaster]

He must have really hated his neighbour to come up with a prank like that. :s

[TAZMINATOR]

[point at LimeMaster] it was him! 

 

 

heheh.

[LimeMaster]

Nope, I'm not really the sort-of person that does pranks.

[_dandy_]

They could possibly check local ISPs to see if there is any new service to his specific address.

 

They could randomly search his home for any computers.

 

He's forbidden from being on the internet, not having computers.

 

That being said, even if it can be verified that he doesn't have any other account on other ISPs, the authorities ought to pay him a visit and check that none of his neighbors within wifi range have an open access point.

 

Obviously he shouldn't be allowed to have a cell phone, or at least one that allows him to have any sort of data plan.

 

Either way, it's a dick move and he got off easy.