An Ottawa man that police describe as someone who was angry and held a grudge is facing nearly 200 cyberbullying-related charges.

Robert Campbell made a brief court appearance on Friday. He faces a total of 181 charges, including 27 counts of criminal harassment, 85 counts of defamation libel and 69 counts of identity fraud after police say 18 people in Ottawa and 20 others worldwide were subjected to years cyberbullying.

Police allege the suspect created fake social media accounts and email addresses to smear the reputations of the victims. The cyberbullying and harassment spanned a 12-year-period, police said.

The victims lost money, businesses and their personal reputations were heavily damaged as a result of the cyberbullying, investigators said.

In one case, police say the suspect allegedly used a fake business email address to contact clients to spread false and damaging information about the company and its owners.

Among the allegations, the suspect is accused of:

  • Anonymously emailing false comments that a woman was having marital problems
  • Suggesting another woman had an abortion instead of a miscarriage
  • Creating a fake Facebook profile of a man whom he said was abused as a child
  • Falsely suggesting a man had committed crimes and that information was sent to relatives outside the country
  • Anonymously mailing false comments that a man supported the Nazi party and was a pedophile
  • Making false claims that a woman had produced pornography and engaged in bizarre sexual acts
  • Creating a false online profile suggesting a woman worked as an exotic dancer

The investigation by Ottawa police spanned eight months.

On Thursday, police made an arrest at an Ottawa home where several computers and electronic devices were seized.

Investigators said the victims weren’t randomly targeted, rather they were loosely connected through various social media platforms.

Evidence presented at the trial and the victims’ identities will not be released as a publication ban is in effect.

One of the victims who was cyberbullied for more than a decade said he worked at the same company with the suspect for about six months 12 years ago. The victim said he hadn’t thought of the suspect for years, until he learned of the arrest on Thursday.

“I’m not exactly sure what the motivation was or why this occurred,” the victim told reporters outside the Ottawa courthouse on Friday. “I’m completely clueless.”

The man said that he, along with his wife, mother and two daughters were subjected to the cyberbullying.

“At times it was very troubling,” he said.

He said the harassment would stop for two or three years before starting up again. He said it became more frequent over the last two years.

“For this to occur to 38 different individuals for over a decade is just something I can’t fathom,” he said.

Campbell’s next court appearance is scheduled for Aug. 7.

With files from CTV Ottawa