SCOTT TOWNSHIP, Pa. — A Scott Township man is behind bars after a nearly year-long investigation revealed he was sending vulgar cards and letters to his widowed neighbor, authorities said.
Police said what started as a dispute between neighbors years ago escalated into a hate-filled campaign, with Richard Porchiran stooping to a level officers said they’d never seen.
Porchiran is accused of sending greeting cards with pictures of the victim’s late wife.
“Actually receiving memorials and obituaries of his deceased wife, with vulgar and harassing comments and phrases all over the papers,” Scott Township police Sgt. Jeff Skees said.
The victim, who wished to remain anonymous, told Channel 11 News Tuesday his wife died in 2012. Now it’s just him and his 6-year-old child, who are both caught in the middle of a case of harassment.
“He just didn't like the guy,” Skees said. “They had, an issue over a... actually a building permit that had been issued, and the neighbor wasn't happy about it.”
During their investigation, which began in April 2015, police caught a break by way of a birthday card.
Last month, the victim’s son celebrated his birthday, and one of the cards he received at a party was identical to one they got in the mail a week later that was laden with obscenities and insults.
Police said they were able to trace both cards to the Dollar Tree Store at the Great Southern Shopping Center, and found more evidence.
Surveillance video from the store directly linked Porchiran to the store, police said.
He faces charges of harassment and stalking.
Authorities said Porchiran will soon be charged in another case in which he’s accused of spreading nails in another neighbor’s driveway.