A retired Duquesne Light employee is caught in the headlights of the law for a barrage of threatening emails aimed at his former employer's management. Stephen Neal, 58, is currently facing harassment charges, accused of sending over 200 menacing messages after his disability benefits were halted. WPXI reported that the disgruntled Neal held Duquesne Light accountable for the suspension of his benefits, although they were managed by a third party.
The situation began unraveling when the Lincoln Financial Group stopped Neal's monthly disability benefit payments. Neal, who had retired from Duquesne Light in March, was left without benefits in July after his doctor allegedly didn't submit the necessary documentation. The subsequent email tirade against the company's management started shortly thereafter, according to details from a CBS News report. Among the accusatory emails, one stated, "It's pure evil how we kill our own people and high titles they can do unjust (sic) without any consequences and think they are going to get away with it? I think the corrupt union and mismanagement of LBTQ discrimination won't win."
Despite the company indicating that Neal's grievances were misdirected, pointing out that the union or managing group should address his concerns, he reportedly continued his relentless digital onslaught. The Allegheny County District Attorney's Office has now brought forward six charges of harassment against the former employee. Duquesne Light had previously implored Neal to cease his communications and had to resort to professional threat assessment after he ignored their requests.
According to the criminal complaint, Duquesne Light has provided Neal with clear instructions on who to contact about the discontinuation of his benefits and affirmed that they had no sway over the third party's decision. Yet, despite being apprised that the company was not to blame and repeatedly asking him to stop the emails, Neal's communication persisted, prompting the company to screen each incoming email meticulously.
