Subject of national TV show in Multnomah County jail
Reported by: KOIN Local 6 staff
Published: 6/08 2:55 pm
PORTLAND, Ore. -- The 28-year-old founder of STDCarriers.com is in Multnomah County jail, accused of a felony “computer crime,” two counts of felony coercion and identify theft.
Cyrus Andrew Sullivan was booked into Multnomah County Jail Friday.
Sullivan's bail has been set at $1 million, up from $200,000 set Thursday for his arrest. He also is not being allowed to make any phone calls from jail, except to his lawyer.
Sullivan has been a focus of a segment on Anderson Cooper's daytime talk show Anderson, and has gained Internet notoriety for the website he founded in 2008 allowing users to report anyone as an STD carrier.
In an April 2011 report, that site raised concerns for at least one local attorney.
"In Oregon there's no liability for the publication of a private fact," Portland attorney Duane Bosworth told KOIN in its story about STDCarriers.com. That's even if the publication of that private fact was done to intentionally inflict emotional harm, Bosworth said.
In response to feedback such as this, Sullivan also launched a site called CyberBullyingReport.com: "Anti-Bullying and Internet Safety Services." It promoted a Portland-based website letting people "report cyber bullies online with anonymous publishing."
"CyberBullyingReport.com is ... built to empower victims of cyberbullying, cyberstalking, and online harassment to fight back against their tormentors safely and anonymously," the release reads, "while at the same time providing up to date news and resources for Internet safety."
According to a probable cause affidavit filed in Multnomah County Circuit Court, Sullivan is accused of threatening a person he believed was speaking out against him online in what Sullivan described as the "stalker site."
Investigators said he threatened to post that persons "STD report" if the website was not removed.
Investigators said Sullivan went on to send an email to the victim, cc'd to a chief investigator for the Oregon Department of Justice which said, "Now I have no choice but to come to your house armed and put an end to you once and for all. The only way you can stop this is by removing your stalker site and paying me $10,000. You don't have a choice."
When the person did not pay investigators said he again threatened to kill that person.
Portland police said the case is still under investigation and Sullivan could face additional charges.
He is scheduled to be back in Multnomah County court on June 18.
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