La Porte City Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Cyberstalking

DAVENPORT, IOWA – A La Porte City man, Austin Michael Kiler, was sentenced today by United States District Court Chief Judge John A. Jarvey to 21 months in prison for Cyberstalking. Kiler was ordered to serve two years of supervised release to follow his prison term, as well as pay $ 100 to the Crime Victims’ Fund. On March 26, 2021, Kiler was found guilty following a jury trial.

According to court documents, Austin Michael Kiler, age 24, was in a relationship with an identified victim between the winter of 2018 and March 2019. After their relationship ended, the victim began dating another person. Kiler then electronically and physically followed the victim and the new partner. As a result, the victim obtained a civil protective order against Kiler. Over the next nine months the victim reported to the police multiple instances in which Kiler had been stalking them—which included Kiler driving by the victim’s known residence, Kiler driving by the new partner’s residence, numerous fake dating/social media accounts that continuously contacted the victim and the new partner, and contact with the victim through spoofed text messages. One of the text messages the victim received contained information leading them to believe Kiler had been watching them through the windows of their home.

Evidence on Kiler’s electronic devices revealed calendar events regarding the whereabouts of the victim, screenshots of the victim and the new partner’s dating/social media profiles, evidence of Kiler having created fake online personas, as well as videos and photos— taken through a window—of the victim and the new partner engaged in sexual activities. Geolocation data from Kiler’s accounts corroborated nearly all the victim’s reported sightings of Kiler.

Acting United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Iowa City Police Department investigated the case.