California Man Sentenced to One Year for Cyberstalking Father of Parkland Massacre Victim

James Catalano, a 62-year-old property manager from Fresno, sent over 200 disturbing messages to Fred Guttenberg, father of a victim of the 2018 Parkland school shooting, due to disagreement over Guttenberg's advocacy for stricter gun laws.

James Catalano, a 62-year-old property manager from Fresno, California, was sentenced to one year in federal prison and three years probation for cyberstalking Fred Guttenberg, the father of a victim of the 2018 Parkland school shooting.
Catalano sent more than 200 messages to Guttenberg over an eight-month period, starting in December 2021, celebrating the death of Guttenberg's 14-year-old daughter Jaime and mocking Guttenberg's loss, grief, and advocacy for stricter gun laws.
Catalano admitted his actions were due to disagreeing with Guttenberg's advocacy for stronger gun laws, stating he believed Guttenberg was using his daughter's death to push his political agenda.
Prosecution described the messages sent by Catalano as 'callous and cruel', capitalizing on Guttenberg's grief and the horrific nature of his daughter's death to silence him.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Arielle Klepach wrote that Catalano sent similar messages to others, but he has not yet been charged in those cases.
Guttenberg has stated that the sentence sends a strong message to those who cyberstalk the families of shooting victims, asserting that they will be caught and punished.

U.S. Department of Justice