Courts / Dublin / Report
US actor jailed for harassing Irish woman he met 20 years ago
Summary
Stephen Spenneberg, 55, an American actor and podcast host, was sentenced to two years in prison with 12 months suspended for harassing an Irish woman he met 20 years ago. The harassment spanned from May 2020 to January 2023 and included repeated phone calls, emails, social‑media messages, voicemails, and attempts to contact her through various platforms. Despite being told by Gardaí, Kentucky police and other authorities to stop, he persisted. He also travelled to Ireland in December 2022, visited a commercial premises linked to the woman's family, and was arrested on 7 January 2023. The court imposed a permanent no‑contact order, forbidding any direct or indirect contact with the woman, her family, friends, co‑workers or professional cohort, and prohibited publishing any identifying details about her. The sentence was back‑dated to 7 January 2023. The 12‑month suspended portion is subject to a three‑year period of supervision. Stephen Spenneberg pleaded guilty.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: US actor jailed for harassing Irish woman he met 20 years ago. Charges or matters: harassing. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- May 10, 2020 Hearing Or Sentence
- January 3, 2023 Hearing Or Sentence
- June 17, 2022 Hearing Or Sentence
- June 13 Other
- December 31, 2022 Hearing Or Sentence
- January 7, 2023 Incident
- December 31 Incident
- January 7 Incident
- 2023-05-03 Publication
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: harassing (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: An American actor and podcast host who persistently harassed an Irish woman he met 20 years ago has been jailed for a year.
Places mentioned
- Oakshire Drive
- Dublin
- Dublin Circuit Criminal Court
- Wild Atlantic Way
Topics
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