David Ryan Winters, 40, a North Carolina man who stalked, harassed and threatened people in the Raleigh-Durham area for nearly a decade, pleaded guilty to five counts of cyberstalking and was sentenced to three years in federal prison.
Prosecutors said Winters singled out the men based on their “actual gender, perceived gender, gender identity, and sexual orientation.”
Mr. Winters pleaded guilty in September 2025. Chief Judge Richard E. Myers II sentenced him on February 24 to 44 months in prison on each count, with the sentences to run concurrently. He will also be placed on three years of supervised release and will pay a $500 special assessment bond.
in press releaseThe U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina said Winters wanted to use the Orlando Pulse nightclub massacre to make national headlines and threatened to kill specific victims and gay men in general. He also visited the workplace of one of the victims, smashed a window and threw a metal trash can at the victim’s car. His actions forced some of those targeted to relocate or take other protective measures.
“We believe in protecting all citizens who have the right to live in peace,” U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle said in a press release. “This anti-social behavior will only get worse if there is serious attention and prevention. I would like to thank our dedicated law enforcement partners for taking this matter seriously and putting this offender behind bars.”
Chief Judge Richard E. Myers II sentenced Winters on February 24 to 44 months in prison on each count, with the sentences to run concurrently, according to court records. He will also be placed on three years of supervised release and will pay a $500 special assessment bond.
Myers recommended that Winters undergo a physical and mental health evaluation and be admitted to a federal facility with a medical center capable of addressing all mental health needs. It also recommended that Mr. Winters be provided with job training and educational opportunities while he serves his sentence.
metro weekly Winters’ public defender, Lauren Harrell Brennan, did not respond to a request for comment as of press time.
Raleigh City Councilman Jonathan Lambert Melton admitted in a 2024 interview with an NBC affiliate. Warar He was one of five victims (identified only by their initials in court documents) who accused Winters of threatening and cyberstalking them.
on facebook postLambert Melton went to federal court in Wilmington on February 23 to file a victim impact statement, saying Winters “stalked, harassed and threatened me and many others in the community for several years.”
“This chapter has been one of the most difficult in my life, and I am grateful for the support of the many people who have worked hard to bring this matter to its just conclusion,” he wrote.
Source: Metro Weekly – www.metroweekly.com
