Rhode Island Man Charged With Threatening Professor

BOSTON (AP/CBS) — A Rhode Island man has been charged with sending a series of threatening emails to a college professor in Massachusetts apparently because of the professor's pro-abortion rights stance.

The U.S. attorney in Boston says 30-year-old Matthew Haviland, of North Kingstown, was charged Wednesday with cyberstalking and with transmitting a threat in interstate commerce.

Prosecutors say over several hours on March 10, Haviland sent the professor approximately 28 emails containing messages that included threats such as, "I will rip every limb from your body and eat it, piece by piece."

Neither the professor's name nor the college at which they work was disclosed.

Prosecutors say on March 15 and 16 Haviland sent 12 threatening emails to a professional school at the professor's university.

Haviland posted videos on YouTube that often mentioned race, gender and physical disabilities and the threats toward the professor's school criticize it for favoritism based on those points. "You should be murdered in cold blood," says one email.

Just three weeks ago, prosecutors say Haviland took aim on a women's medical center with a spate of anti-abortion voice and emails, one saying, "You guys are so evil... I would kill everyone of you with my bare hands."

Prosecutors say everyone has the right to express their opinion, but Haviland's gruesome threat of violence clearly crosses the line.

On April fifth, court documents say that Haviland left 114 voice messages at a Rhode Island abortion clinic. At the time he told police he had no intent to harm anyone.

He remains in custody and faces a possible five year prison sentence if convicted.

Haviland's public defender declined to comment.

(© Copyright 2019 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)