Lock Haven man charged with threats toward Mayor Joel Long

LOCK HAVEN, PA – A Lock Haven man charged with threatening Lock Haven Mayor Joel Long has waived his preliminary hearing.

Michael Paul Stoneberg, 56, faces charges of terroristic threats and harassment for what Lock Haven city police allege is a series of messages threatening to injure or kill the mayor.

Lock Haven City Police Chief Kristin Smith alleged in a criminal complaint filed on January 8 that Stoneberg used a Facebook account under a false name of “Alfonso Bonzo” and sent two private messages on Dec. 16 to the “Joel Long for Mayor of Lock Haven” Facebook page.

The messages allegedly include a series of statements that Long should be killed, calling for the residents of the city to kill Long, that all Democrats need to be killed, and that Long should be the first.

According to the office of Clinton County District Attorney Dave Strouse, city police obtained Facebook records for the account, and were able to obtain identifying information of the account holder and the messages lead police to Stoneberg. Police allege Stoneberg spoke to police in early January and admitted to sending the messages from the Facebook account. If convicted, Stoneberg faces a maximum sentence of up to 6 years in prison.