North Carolina man jailed after threatening sheriff, mayor, 13 others including law enforcement officers

BROADWAY, NC— John Robert McDonald, 57, was placed under arrest by the Lee County Sheriff's Department on Tuesday on charges that he cyberstalked Lee County Sheriff Brian Estes and fourteen other people, including other members of the sheriff's department.

As reported by ABC11, McDonald, also known as the "Junkman," was initially arrested on fourteen counts Tuesday and released on a $2,000 bond. District Court Judge Jerry Frank Wood Jr. reduced his bond from an original $28,000.



In a statement posted to Facebook after McDonald's Tuesday release, Sheriff Estes strongly objected publicly to his release, writing,

"I am truly at a loss for words!!!!!! So, this morning, a District Court Judge reduced the bond for John McDonald, allowing him to get out of jail.

This is an example of how we try to protect the public and ourselves from dangerous individuals and then they go right back on the street without getting the help they truly need."

Estes added, "There are many other videos threatening deputies, police officers, and members of our community." The videos he referenced have since been taken down by the social network.

According to court documents obtained by WRAL, McDonald reportedly cyberstalked the Lee County Sheriff "for the purpose of abusing, threatening, terrifying, harassing, or embarrassing Brian Estes."

As reported by The Sanford Herald, McDonald originally faced 14 misdemeanor cyberstalking counts against 13 law enforcement officers and Broadway Mayor Donald Andrews.

An additional fifteenth accuser came forward on Thursday with additional allegations of cyberstalking and extortion. The new allegations resulted in the suspect's re-arrest later that day under two counts of felony extortion and another count of cyberstalking. Judge Wood set McDonald's bond to $1 Million, per the Herald, and ordered his transfer to another facility due to threats made by the suspect against Lee County Sheriff's Department personnel.

McDonald was previously arrested and charged in May 2023 for writing a sign to intimidate and disorderly conduct after he allegedly displayed a sign on his property featuring racist language and a swastika. His disposition hearing is set for November 6th.