In a chilling case that underscores the dark side of online fame, a former Twitch moderator has been arrested again for allegedly continuing a years-long stalking campaign against a World of Warcraft streamer. According to court documents, Evan Baltierra was taken into custody on February 27 in California and charged with stalking the streamer known online as Nalipls, years after the harassment first began.
Baltierra had previously moderated Nalipls’ Twitch chat and met her in person at BlizzCon in 2019. Prosecutors say the situation escalated after he began donating large sums of money and asked her to be his “valentine.” When she rejected his romantic advances and later removed him as a moderator on her channel, the harassment allegedly intensified.
The Pattern of Harassment
Authorities say the harassment began in 2020 and included threats, doxxing, and the distribution of manipulated images. According to earlier filings, Baltierra allegedly created hundreds of fake accounts across platforms to contact the streamer and spam her livestream chats with abusive messages. Investigators also accused him of hiring someone to create photoshopped images using Nalipls’ face, which were then shared online and sent to people in her personal life.
The case previously led to Baltierra being arrested in 2022. He pleaded guilty and was later sentenced to two years in prison after violating conditions of his pretrial release. Despite that conviction, the harassment allegedly resumed after his release, showing how difficult it can be to break these cycles of obsession.
The Emotional Toll on Streamers
What strikes me about this case isn’t just the legal details, but the human cost. In a February 26 affidavit, written by FBI agent Nicholas Vicencia, Nalipls contacted authorities in December 2025 after strangers began messaging her with information taken from Reddit posts made online in her name advertising “dirty talk” and video games. Subpoenas later traced the posts back to an IP address connected to Baltierra’s father’s home, where he was living.
Probation officers also reportedly discovered a handwritten note containing the streamer’s personal information, including her phone number and address, during a search of the residence. Investigators believe Baltierra used the information to impersonate Nalipls online and create posts designed to harass or embarrass her.
According to the affidavit, the ongoing campaign has caused the streamer significant anxiety and fear for her safety and that of her family. Authorities say she has largely withdrawn from online activity, which previously served as her main source of income. This detail hits particularly hard—imagine building a career around connecting with people, only to have that same connection weaponized against you to the point where you have to step away from your livelihood.
A Broader Problem in Streaming Culture
Baltierra is currently being held in custody ahead of his trial. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for March 13, followed by a post-indictment arraignment on March 16.
This is just the latest in stalker incidents involving streamers. In 2024, VTuber Camila had a stalker try to break into her home on stream in a scary broadcast. Others, like QTCinderella, have expressed concern about attending events such as TwitchCon 2025 over fears for their safety. At that same event, Emiru was holding a meet-and-greet when a male fan skipped to the front of the line, grabbed her, and attempted to kiss her.
Also, last year, a Korean streamer was found dead, and one of her viewers, who had donated tens of thousands of dollars to her, was arrested for her murder. These incidents paint a troubling picture of how parasocial relationships can turn dangerous when boundaries are crossed.
Why This Matters Beyond the Headlines
As someone who covers entertainment, I’ve seen how streaming has created unprecedented access between creators and audiences. But cases like this remind us that this access comes with real risks. The emotional takeaway here is stark: for many streamers, the fear isn’t just about bad comments or trolls—it’s about physical safety and psychological well-being being compromised by individuals who blur the lines between fandom and obsession.
Streaming platforms and communities need to continue developing better safeguards, but as viewers, we also have a responsibility to respect boundaries. The person on screen is exactly that—a person, not a character in a story we control. When that basic understanding breaks down, the consequences can be devastating, as this case tragically illustrates.
