Brian Thomas Balda, a 52-year-old resident of Oregon, was sentenced to 39 months in prison and three years of supervised release after being convicted of cyberstalking and interstate stalking. The sentencing took place on September 4 before United States District Judge Angela M. Martinez in Tucson, Arizona.
A federal jury found Balda guilty on June 13, following a four-day trial. According to court records, Balda targeted a former United States government official over a period spanning from 2023 to 2024. During this time, he sent the victim abusive and profane text messages and voicemails for about ten months.
Balda traveled from Oregon to Arizona with the intent to confront the victim. Law enforcement arrested him near the victim’s residence. At the time of his arrest, authorities discovered four knives, binoculars, and a replica handgun in his vehicle.
The investigation was led by the FBI Phoenix Division’s Tucson office with support from the Pima County Sheriff’s Department and the University of Arizona Police Department. The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona.
“The FBI Phoenix Division’s Tucson office investigated this matter, with the assistance of the Pima County Sheriff’s Department and the University of Arizona Police Department. The United States Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Tucson, handled the prosecution.”
