Stalker who threatened Eva LaRue sentenced to prison

James David Rogers, 58, has been sentenced to 40 months in federal prison for his years-long campaign of harassment against actress Eva LaRue and her daughter. The Ohio man was sentenced in Los Angeles on Monday by a U.S. District Court judge after pleading guilty to multiple charges, including two counts of mailing threatening communications, two counts of stalking, and one count of threat by interstate communications.
Rogers’s campaign of terror began in March 2007 and continued until his arrest in November 2019. During this period, he stalked, threatened, and harassed LaRue and her daughter, who was only five years old when the harassment began. The nature of his threats and the duration of his actions caused significant distress for the family.
Court documents detailed Rogers’s relentless harassment, which included sending letters threatening violence. The severity of his actions led to a substantial sentence, reflecting the impact of his behavior on LaRue and her daughter.
Eva LaRue, known for her roles on popular daytime and primetime television, has had a storied career. She began her daytime television journey on NBC’s “Santa Barbara” in 1988 before joining the cast of “All My Children” as Maria Santos. Her portrayal of Maria Santos earned her a Daytime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress in 1997 and a 2004 nomination for Outstanding Original Song for “Dance Again With You.” LaRue’s talent was further recognized in 2020 when she won the Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Guest Performer for her work as Celeste Rosales on “The Young and the Restless.”
In addition to her daytime roles, LaRue appeared on the CBS primetime drama “CSI: Miami” from 2005 to 2012, solidifying her presence in the television industry.
According to the New York Times, LaRue is currently working on a show that is partly autobiographical, drawing from her experiences over the past twelve years. This project aims to shed light on the harrowing ordeal she and her daughter endured and the broader issues surrounding stalking and harassment.
LaRue’s resilience and continued success in the face of such adversity serve as an inspiration to many. Her ability to transform her painful experiences into creative work demonstrates her strength and determination to bring awareness to the impact of stalking and harassment.