Fan Who Sent Ashanti & Her Mother Filthy Pictures Is Convicted

Indiana man Devar Hurd was found guilty of stalking and aggravated harassment in Manhattan Criminal Court Tuesday, in connection with a series of sexually graphic text messages and pictures he sent to the R&B singer Ashanti and her mother over the course of the past three years.

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Hurd, 31, was arrested in July. He testified that he felt he had to meet the Always On Time singer after they made eye contact at a concert in Chicago in 2003. After obtaining the phone number of the singer's mother, Tina Douglas, Hurd admittedly began leaving long voice mails for the singer and her mother, which graduated into sexually explicit text messages and, eventually, photos of him masturbating.

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Hurd said in testimony he thought the messages were welcomed.

Hurd's attorney, Richard Verchick, said on his client's behalf: "Sending pictures and texts is not crime. The intent was never to harass Tina or Ashanti. What he wanted was what we all want in life -- love."

Hurd's sentencing is scheduled for January 11.