Hugo man wanted for stalking, threats

A Hugo man is wanted for allegations he harassed his former therapist with threats against her and her children by using his internet technology expertise.

The Comanche County District Court issued a felony arrest warrant Tuesday for Benjamin Freeman, 40, for a count of stalking and a misdemeanor charge of threatening to perform an act of violence, records indicate. The felony is punishable by up to three years in prison and/or fine up to $5,000.

Elgin Police Officer Jason Barrier began investigation Jan. 1 regarding threats against a marital and family therapist for the state of Oklahoma who works from her remote Comanche County home office, according to the warrant affidavit. She “was visibly shaken and afraid while I was speaking with her,” Barrier stated.

The therapist said her former client, Freeman, told her July 10, 2024, he’s used his IT employee access and took other employees’ photos of their children, some nude in bathtubs or pools, the affidavit states. He also told her he used the photos in a lewd manner and, concerned about a vulnerable child in his home, the therapist stated she submitted a mandatory report to DHS. Barrier stated Freeman was referred to other clinicians as the treatment was beyond the therapist’s scope of practice.

Since Freeman’s discharge from treatment, the therapist said he’d sent 43 emails to her containing various vulgar scenarios and hints of retaliation for her reporting him, according to the affidavit. On Jan. 1, the therapist received 24 emails from Freeman threatening her and her children, warning “… you are not going to be able to protect yourself,” Barrier stated.

The therapist voiced concerns Freeman would use his expertise to place pornographic images into her computer, the officer stated. In one email, according to the affidavit, he wrote: “What if I have a remote shell on your computer and I’m uploading child porn right now?”

A $100,000 cash warrant bond was issued upon Freeman’s arrest.