North Kingstown Man To Plead Guilty To Threatening MA Professor

NORTH KINGSTOWN, RI — A Rhode Island man this week agreed to plead guilty to charges he sent more than two dozen violent, threatening messages to a Massachusetts professor. The emails included bizarre messages such as, "I will rip every limb from your body and eat it, piece by piece."

Matthew Haviland, 29, was arrested in April after he was accused of sending the emails to the college professor, who spoke out in favor of abortion rights. He was charged with cyberstalking and transmitting an interstate threat.

On Thursday, a plea agreement filed in federal court recommended 21 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release and a fine, according to Massachusetts U.S. Attorney Andrew Lelling. A plea hearing has not yet been scheduled.

According to the U.S. Attorney, Haviland sent the emails over the course of several hours on March 10. Several of the emails referenced abortion.

"You will be held accountable for every f------ baby you murdered through your horrible deception of they are not humans," one of the emails read.

Haviland was accused of sending several more threatening emails to the university five days later.

"You people are Evil, putrid, and somebody shoudl BOMB your school for spreading the idea that it’s okay to HATE people because of their race," said one such email, which contained several grammar errors.

While the plea agreement recommends 21 months in prison, Haviland could be sentenced to up to five years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and restitution.