SUGARCREEK BOROUGH, Pa. (EYT) — A Franklin man is facing stalking and related charges for allegedly continuing to contact and harass his ex-girlfriend.

Court documents indicate the Sugarcreek Borough Police Department filed criminal charges against 26-year-old Nicholas Andrew Benn.

According to a criminal complaint, on September 18, Sugarcreek Borough Police were dispatched to a report of a known female victim who was reportedly being harassed by her ex-boyfriend, Nicholas Andrew Benn.

The victim reported that Benn began to get “nasty” with her via phone and social media messages in April of 2020. She said that at one point, he told her he was “going to get a bottle of Jack, drink it all, and then hang himself,” the complaint states.

The victim also told police that Benn made multiple disparaging remarks toward her. She reported that on July 10, she sent him a message saying to leave her alone and stop contacting her or she would get the police involved. She also went to his residence with a family member and advised Benn’s father that if Benn continued to contact her, they would get the police involved. The victim told police that Benn was there at the time the conversation took place, the complaint states.

According to the complaint, the victim reported Benn stopped contacting her for a short time, but then he found her on Facebook. When she blocked him there, he made a second Facebook account, and she then blocked that account, as well. He then created a third account and contacted her again, and she also blocked that account.

All of the contacts via Facebook occurred after the victim explicitly told Benn to stop contacting her, the complaint notes.

The victim told police Benn then located her on Instagram and attempted to contact her there multiple times before she blocked him. He then reportedly found her on Snapchat and attempted to contact her there, and she blocked that contact, as well. Benn then became friends with the victim’s mother on Facebook and attempted to have her relay communications to the victim, the complaint states.

The victim’s sister also spoke to police about her interactions with Benn.

According to the complaint, the victim’s sister reported that she was present when some of the contact attempts were received by the victim. She also said the victim was worried about Benn’s behavior and threats. When asked about the threats, she said she was referring to Benn’s threats to harm himself. She also noted that Benn had contacted their mother in attempts to reach the victim.

The victim stated she wasn’t sure what else to do and said she was becoming nervous that the contact attempts seemed to be occurring more often. She also told police she was beginning to have concerns about her safety, the complaint states.

The victim provided police with screenshots of the contact attempts. She relayed a dozen emails with a total of 51 attachments of attempts at communication, according to the complaint.

The following charges were filed against Benn through Magisterial District Judge Patrick E. Lowrey’s office on September 22:

– Stalking — Repeatedly Comm. To Cause Fear, Misdemeanor 1
– Harassment — Communicate Repeatedly in Another Manner, Misdemeanor 3

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. on November 18, in Venango County Central Court with Judge Lowrey presiding.