Man who called his victim more than 40 times in one day faces multiple charges, SLED says
A man called a victim more than 40 times in less than 24 hours, drove erratically in front of their home and threatened to release a video unless cash was forked over, according to the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division.
SLED charged Ricardo Cole Ray, 30, with stalking, blackmail and first degree harassment after a series of events between Nov. 14 and Nov. 24, according to an arrest warrant. If convicted, he faces up to 18 years in jail and/or $11,000 in fines.
The Charleston man began threatening his victim via text on Nov. 14, when he demanded the victim send him $1,200 to repair his car or he’d release a video, the warrant said. The video’s contents were not mentioned in the warrant. Ray then went on to call the victim’s phone more than 40 times in less than a day.
Later, Ray was seen on video sitting in his car in front of the victim’s house before he began driving recklessly, according to the warrant. On Nov. 24, he sent his victim a picture of the victim’s house.
Ray intended to cause his victim to fear death, assault, bodily injury, kidnapping and/or damage to the victim’s property and/or the victim’s family, SLED said. His actions caused the victim to suffer mental and emotional distress.
Ray was booked into the Sheriff Al Cannon Detention Center in Charleston County on a $180,000 bond.
