Albuquerque man pleads guilty to stalking local family

            ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Stephen Yochim, 48, of Albuquerque, pleaded guilty in federal court on Oct. 18 to stalking. A sentencing date has not been scheduled.

            According to his plea agreement and other court records, Yochim allegedly sent a series of messages from multiple Google email (gmail) accounts to an Albuquerque couple. In highly graphic language, the messages, received between Jan. 11 and Jan. 15, threatened physical violence against one of the recipients and expressed morbid joy at the prospect of cancer afflicting the other recipient. Included in the profane terms directed toward the family was the repeated use of an ethnic slur.

            Yochim admitted that the messages served no legal or legitimate purpose and were intended to harass and intimidate the victims.

            Yochim faces up to five years in prison.

            The FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Samuel A Hurtado is prosecuting the case.

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