ST. LOUIS (KMOX) - A 54-year old woman is sentenced to two and a half years in prison for harassing former Ritenour Colleagues.
The Saint Louis County Prosecutor says Leslie Callaway , between, March and September of 2022 sent hundreds of harassing and threatening text messages to one victim and posted a threatening social media message targeting two other victims.
The following is a statement from the St. Louis County Prosecutor:
The St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney's Office proved beyond a reasonable doubt that, between March and September of 2022, Callaway sent hundreds of harassing and threatening text messages to one victim and posted a threatening social media message targeting two other victims, with the purpose of causing emotional distress to all three. Callaway's victims were an administrator and two former colleagues in the Ritenour School District. Her actions resulted in heightened security measures at district schools. The Overland Police Department investigated the incident.
The St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney's Office called the three victims and an Overland Police detective. The jury observed video of the defendant's police interview. The defense called a forensic examiner from the Missouri Department of Mental Health who interviewed the defendant and wrote a report on her mental health. The jury rejected the defense argument that Callaway should not be held accountable for her actions because she was suffering mental illness at the time.
Assistant Prosecuting Attorneys John Schlesinger and John Morrison served as co-chairs on the successful trial team.
"I am grateful that this observant jury recognized that this defendant made a purposeful decision to harass, threaten and inflict duress on former colleagues who did nothing to deserve her attacks," said St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Melissa Price Smith. "We applaud the Ritenour School District for going the extra mile to protect their students and staff."