Detailing alleged harassment: False DSS calls, identity theft, efforts to hurt businesses

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October 23, 2008

Victim also signed up for nude recreation group

By Bethany Bray

Police reports spell out the alleged harassment of the Lyons family, 12 High Vale Lane. Included in the reports:

Jim Lyons received an e-mail with his own social security number, date of birth, home and cell phone numbers and his wife, Bernadette's social security number. The e-mail read "Hello. Please confirm the information below. If it is correct, let the games begin! Remember, if you aren't miserable, I aint happy! Let's play."

On March 27, Lyons called police because two Department of Social Services workers had shown up at his house (after 10 p.m.), asking to speak with his 14-year old son about an allegation of abuse. DSS had been called on their emergency hotline, claiming that the teen had "inappropriately touched a female at school."

Lyons received a letter from a "Brian" who claimed to be a former employee, stating that Lyons had molested him. "Brian" wrote that he intends to consult an attorney and persecute Lyons. Lyons says he has never employed anyone named Brian.

Lyons was signed up for mailing lists for 11 different websites, including one named "beyondexgay.com"

Lyons was signed up as a member of the American Association for Nude Recreation.

An ad was posted to craigslist.org, an online classified site, listing nine golf carts and a 1973 Harley Davidson Trike motorcycle, with Jim Lyons' name, address and home and cell phone numbers, specifying that interested persons call after 10 p.m. The evening of March 19, Lyons received 20 to 30 phone calls about the motorcycle and golf carts in the span of 15 minutes.

When Craiglist was contacted by Andover police and the ad was pulled, another ad was reposted, advertising that the Harley Davidson belonged to Lyons' "late son," which he believed to be a threat.

Someone tried to open a bank account using Jim Lyons' social security and information at Harris Bank in Illinois.

Another online classified ad was taken out on Zipply.com, listing the same fictional Harley Davidson Trike.

His information was used to apply for a credit card from Orchard Bank in Portland, Ore.

Lyons received a letter of thanks from a California foundation thanking him for the donation of his 1987 Searay Sundeck boat. Lyons does not own a boat.

On March 29, a flower shop Lyons owns in Derry, N.H. was burglarized. A window was smashed and $500 was taken.

Lyons received a letter of thanks from BioGift Anatomical Inc. stating that he was interested in donating his body for medical science. Lyons felt this was a direct threat on his life.

Lyons received a threatening e-mail at home, viewable for only 30 seconds before the message "self destructed." The e-mail read "Are you ready to start the game. I am. You were the one that wanted to play, and by the way stop [expletive] whining, tuff guy, you little parasite."

Health inspectors showed up at ice cream shops that Lyons owns in Reading and Tewksbury. Someone had sent letters to boards of health in both towns, alleging they had gotten sick from eating.

Other details in the reports:

Computer CDs seized at Gerald Colton's house revealed e-mails between Colton and Gail Johnson; messages were sent from Gail Johnson to Colton with Lyons' name, e-mail address, street address, social security number and date of birth. One message read "Feel free to be careless with this info. Love ya, Gail," according to the police.

In an interview with Andover Police Officer Chad Cooper, Colton said the harassment began after Bill Johnson, his friend since high school, called him on the telephone and told him "I want to pull a prank on my neighbor."

Colton said that while Colton was in the Middleton House of Corrections, Bill Johnson had tried to contact his wife, and got his daughter's phone number from his sister-in-law. Johnson had met with his daughter, said Colton, and given her an envelope with $10,000 cash, instructing her to give the envelope to her mother "to help your father out." Under the instruction of her mother, the daughter returned the money to Johnson, he said.