Delaware News

DOJ Secures Life Sentence For Serial Stalker

Department of Justice Press Releases | Date Posted: Friday, September 29, 2023


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A New Castle man has been sentenced to life in prison following convictions in two domestic violence cases. On September 22, David Jewell, 47, was declared a habitual offender and sentenced to life in prison for convictions of felony Stalking, Harassment, and 24 counts of Terroristic Threatening, following an investigation into hundreds of violent phone calls and messages targeting two victims, one of whom was a minor. The threats were issued while Jewell was in the midst of a nine-year sentence at Sussex Correctional Institution for Assault 2nd Degree and Violation of Probation stemming from another domestic violence case. When the Department of Correction suspended his ability to call the victim, Jewell continued his abuse, using other inmates’ SBI numbers to send digital messages and subvert the order. 

Jewell was sentenced to an additional two years for a separate felony Stalking conviction pertaining to more than 100 abusive letters sent to the same two victims in violation of a September 2021 no-contact order. These cases were part of a pattern of domestic abuse incidents dating back to 2001. Jewell’s more than 20-year history of violence has affected five different intimate partners and multiple family members and included two violent felony convictions, six non-violent felonies, and 24 violations of probation prior to this case. 

“This man’s actions have been completely unconscionable,” said Attorney General Kathy Jennings. “His violent record and incessant harassment of his victims — even from behind the walls of a prison — show all too clearly that he is a danger not only to his victims, but to our entire community. I am deeply grateful to our DOJ team and the New Castle County Police Department for their tremendous work in these cases, and hope his victims can find some peace knowing that he will serve his natural life in prison.” 

This sentence was secured by Deputy Attorneys General Brianna Mills and Colleen Durkin, with the assistance of Paralegal Niki Cruz, and Social Worker Megan MacKinnon following an investigation led by Special Investigator Brian Daly and supported by Cpl. Megan McCole, Officer Quinn Davis, and the New Castle County Police Department. 

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DOJ Secures Life Sentence For Serial Stalker

Department of Justice Press Releases | Date Posted: Friday, September 29, 2023


Navy blue background featuring the Delaware state seal in the center

A New Castle man has been sentenced to life in prison following convictions in two domestic violence cases. On September 22, David Jewell, 47, was declared a habitual offender and sentenced to life in prison for convictions of felony Stalking, Harassment, and 24 counts of Terroristic Threatening, following an investigation into hundreds of violent phone calls and messages targeting two victims, one of whom was a minor. The threats were issued while Jewell was in the midst of a nine-year sentence at Sussex Correctional Institution for Assault 2nd Degree and Violation of Probation stemming from another domestic violence case. When the Department of Correction suspended his ability to call the victim, Jewell continued his abuse, using other inmates’ SBI numbers to send digital messages and subvert the order. 

Jewell was sentenced to an additional two years for a separate felony Stalking conviction pertaining to more than 100 abusive letters sent to the same two victims in violation of a September 2021 no-contact order. These cases were part of a pattern of domestic abuse incidents dating back to 2001. Jewell’s more than 20-year history of violence has affected five different intimate partners and multiple family members and included two violent felony convictions, six non-violent felonies, and 24 violations of probation prior to this case. 

“This man’s actions have been completely unconscionable,” said Attorney General Kathy Jennings. “His violent record and incessant harassment of his victims — even from behind the walls of a prison — show all too clearly that he is a danger not only to his victims, but to our entire community. I am deeply grateful to our DOJ team and the New Castle County Police Department for their tremendous work in these cases, and hope his victims can find some peace knowing that he will serve his natural life in prison.” 

This sentence was secured by Deputy Attorneys General Brianna Mills and Colleen Durkin, with the assistance of Paralegal Niki Cruz, and Social Worker Megan MacKinnon following an investigation led by Special Investigator Brian Daly and supported by Cpl. Megan McCole, Officer Quinn Davis, and the New Castle County Police Department. 

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Graphic that represents delaware news on a mobile phone

Keep up to date by receiving a daily digest email, around noon, of current news release posts from state agencies on news.delaware.gov.

Here you can subscribe to future news updates.