A Lawrence man accused of harassing a New Zealand blogger online also sent sexual pictures to other people, police say.

And when the blogger, Rachel Gronback, asked for an apology, she received a half-hearted response, according to court documents filed in Douglas County District Court. So she called the police.

A subsequent investigation found that the social media accounts of the man had been blocked more than two dozen times by other users, according to information in a recently released arrest affidavit.

Police discovered that the man, Kalim Akeba Lloyd Dowdell, “sent sexually explicit messages to several people” using multiple social media accounts “on several occasions,” the affidavit says.

Dowdell, 19, was arrested on Aug. 5. He was booked into the Douglas County Jail and later released after posting a $1,000 bond. He currently faces a single misdemeanor charge of harassment by telecommunications device.

The criminal charge was filed eight months after Gronback, 31, who writes an online blog about “fashion, online shopping and body positivity,” contacted police.

Gronback told police she received numerous pictures of Dowdell’s penis on her Instagram account, according to the arrest affidavit filed in Douglas County District Court.

Though Gronback blocked Dowdell’s account to stop the pictures from coming in, he would create new accounts and continue sending photographs, the affidavit says.

An arrest affidavit is a document filed by police stating the probable cause for an arrest. Allegations within an arrest affidavit must still be proved in court.

Rachel Gronback

Kalim Akeba Lloyd Dowdell

Soon, Gronback said she learned other women were receiving similar pictures from Dowdell.

Gronback and the other women soon learned Dowdell was then a student at Lawrence’s Veritas Christian School, she said.

“There were at least four women including myself,” Gronback wrote in an email. “One of those women contacted Veritas a number of times to discuss the situation, however the school wasn’t very cooperative.”

Kelli Huslig, Veritas administrator, said in January the school’s staff had not been in contact with law enforcement and would not further discuss student-related issues.

Dowdell is no longer a student at Veritas.

Gronback wrote on her blog at www.rachelgeebee.com that she asked Dowdell for an apology on her behalf and the behalf of another woman.

In an anonymous Instagram post, Gronback said Dowdell posted the following:

“I am truly sorry for my part and actions in this situation involving (redacted name). I realize what happened was not only wrong but ungodly. I hope that you can regain your confidence and strength as a beautiful proud woman no one deserves to have that upon them and someday find it in your heart to forgive for wrong doings. Sorry god bless.”

Gronback felt the apology was unacceptable and that Dowdell didn’t take responsibility for his own actions, the affidavit says. So she contacted police with about 20 pages worth of documentation, pictures and conversations with Dowdell.

Police tried multiple times to speak with Dowdell with no success and in February a search warrant was issued for his Facebook account, the affidavit says.

At that point, police searched through his social media accounts, and police discovered Dowdell’s account had been blocked by more than two dozen people, the affidavit says.

Soon, the Douglas County District Attorney told Gronback they had enough evidence to charge Dowdell with a crime, but would only do so if she agreed to come to the United States in the event of a criminal trial.

The travel would present a significant financial hardship, Gronback said, but she committed to the trip if she is needed.

In June a Lawrence area resident, Ron Wilson, offered to take on a substantial portion of Gronback’s travelling fees if she needs to come to Kansas.

Thus far Gronback said she isn’t sure if she’ll have to make the trip across the ocean.

Dowdell is scheduled to appear in court Tuesday at 1:30 p.m. where a date will be set for his criminal trial.

“I am expecting to hear from the DA after Kalim’s court appearance and we’ll see what happens from there,” Gronback said.

If Dowdell is convicted he could face up to 12 months in jail and/or a fine of up to $2,500.