Eagan man sentenced in harassment case
A 45-year-old Eagan man who harassed a man with whom he believed his wife had an affair using a Web site with a domain name almost identical to the city of Eagan’s official site was sentenced to nine days in jail and four years probation on Wednesday, June 30, according to multiple news reports.
Emmett Salberg Jr. pleaded guilty in Dakota County District Court to attempted coercion and an added charge of misdemeanor disorderly conduct.
Salberg must attend a court-ordered anger-management course, submit to random checks regarding his Internet use and pay an undetermined amount of restitution.
Salberg posted the harassing information on www.cityofeagan.org. He also owned the site www.city-of-eagan.com.
The city’s official site is www.cityofeagan.com. When Salberg’s site began posting derogatory information and photos, it led to confusion among residents.
The site was previously used by Salberg, 44, to post parodies of city politics and announce the opening of new businesses.
According to Eagan officials, the city began getting calls in January about the site’s content, with some residents concerned that the city’s site had been hijacked.
Salberg used the Internet and e-mail to harass the victim and his family for nine months after the victim ended his affair with Salberg’s wife.
The harassment was reported to police in July 2009. That led to charges by the Dakota County Attorney’s Office.
Salberg sent the victim and the victim’s wife numerous harassing e-mails, posted derogatory entries on his Web site, and created a specific Web site using the victim’s name to humiliate the victim and his family.
He demanded $5,000 from the victim to pull the Web site down, according to the complaint.
Salberg agreed in the summer of 2009 to sell the two domain names to the city of Eagan for $2,000.





