Kalispell man denies harassing women online

A Kalispell man has denied charges that he harassed multiple women online as a form of revenge.

Mathew Cullen Bartlett, 35, of Kalispell, pleaded not guilty Sept. 28 in Flathead District Court to three felony and two misdemeanor charges involving the creation of multiple fake Craigslist ads and a Facebook alias to get revenge on women who had reportedly rejected his advances.

According to court documents, the investigation against Bartlett began Feb. 1 when a woman called the Missoula Police Department to report an unauthorized posting on Craigslist. The advertisement allegedly listed the woman’s phone number, her photo and a nude picture purported to be the woman. The alleged victim said she was highly distraught, having received multiple phone calls and text messages from strangers who saw the ad.

Further investigation led detectives to discover several other advertisements made under the name “Kevin Barksdale,” including a similarly listed ad posted on Craigslist on Jan. 30, documents state. This ad allegedly also contained a nude photo, a woman’s full legal name and phone number, along with a request for men to call the number.

One advertisement made under the name “Kevin Barksdale” led police to discover Bartlett’s phone number, according documents. The women who reportedly had fake Craigslist ads made about them did not know each other or Kevin Barksdale, documents state, but said they knew Bartlett and that they had recently rejected his advances.

Detectives also investigated Facebook and found accounts associated with Bartlett and “Kevin Barksdale” and determined the Barksdale account was fictitious and allegedly maintained by Bartlett, according to court documents. The documents state it was clear the Barksdale account was used to send and post derogatory messages about people Bartlett was angry with.

Five alleged victims have been named in the case, the majority of whom live in Flathead County.

Bartlett faces two misdemeanors and one felony charge of privacy in communications, and two felony charges of solicitation of privacy in communications. Bartlett is set to stand trial on Feb. 26, 2018. He faces a maximum of five years in state prison and up to $10,000 in fines for each of the felony charges.

Reporter Breeana Laughlin can be reached at 758-4441 or blaughlin@dailyinterlake.com.