Ryan Joseph Griffin, 33, of Venice, has been adjudicated guilty and sentenced to 10 years in prison, followed by 5 years of probation, for threats and stalking.
He was sentenced to 5 years in prison for Aggravated Stalking – Violation of Order and 10 years in prison, followed by 5 years of probation, for Written Threat to Kill or Do Bodily Injury and also for Written Threat to Conduct a Mass Shooting or Act of Terrorism. The sentences are to run concurrent.
The defendant entered an open plea to the court in Lee County. Defendants can give up their right to a jury trial and plea to the court for sentencing. This is not a plea agreement.
The case involves threats the defendant made to the victim in 2021 and 2022. The victim met the defendant on a dating website. He violated a final judgement of injunction for protection against stalking, by making the threats. He utilized various methods of communication, to harass and threaten the victim.
The Fort Myers Police Department investigated the crime.
Assistant State Attorney Erin Hughes, of the State Attorney’s Office Special Victims Unit, prosecuted the case.
Samantha Syoen – Communications Director, State Attorney’s Office