Man pleads guilty to disguising himself, stalking ex-fiancé in Fort Mill

FORT MILL, S.C. — A Virginia man will spend five years in prison for tracking his former fiancé to Fort Mill, South Carolina, stalking her, and trying to break into her apartment.

Police said Jonathan James drove 300 miles from Virginia last May then rented a car so the victim would not know it was him.

(Jonathan James)

Officials said he then went to her apartment off Highway 160, where neighbors saw him beating on the door. He was arrested before the victim got home.

In the rental car, deputies found a hammer, black gloves, and a change of clothes.

Prosecutors wanted 12 years in prison for James because of the victim's fear for her life and her safety. Officials said she believed he was going to kill her.

James pleaded guilty to stalking and attempted burglary and was sentenced to five years in prison. He also agreed to never enter the state of South Carolina again.

Prosecutors said they learned James had Google searched things like, "How to disguise yourself from someone you know," "Whether renting a car can keep police from finding you," and "How to hack someone's Facebook page."

James is also on the sex offender registry after he was charged with entering a dwelling with the intention to commit rape and attempted rape in 1995.

His defense lawyers asked for probation, saying what he did was just a dumb mistake fueled by alcohol.

Cox Media Group