A woman from another state took stalking to a whole new level when she called her ex-boyfriend over 77,000 times in one week. The couple, whose relationship only last three weeks, broke up and apparently this did not go over well with this woman. She allegedly called him 77,639 times (using up to three phones at the same time) 24 hours a day on his cell phone, home phone, and work phone. On top of that, she sent him 1,937 emails, 41,229 text messages, and 647 letters along with leaving him 217 sung messages. She is now facing a psychological evaluation to see if she is able to stand trial.
What is Stalking in Fort Collins?
Colorado law has outlined a few different situations which can be charged as Stalking under C.R.S. 18-3-602. The one that relates to this case is:
(c) Repeatedly follows, approaches, contacts, places under surveillance, or makes any form of communication with another person, a member of that person’s immediate family, or someone with whom that person has or has had a continuing relationship in a manner that would cause a reasonable person to suffer serious emotional distress and does cause that person, a member of that person’s immediate family, or someone with whom that person has or has had a continuing relationship to suffer serious emotional distress. For purposes of this paragraph (c), a victim need not show that he or she received professional treatment or counseling to show that he or she suffered serious emotional distress.
There is no real measurement of emotional distress.
An important note on this statute is all the victim has to do is claim that they suffered serious emotional distress in order to charge you with Stalking in Fort Collins, Loveland, and Estes Park. There is no real measurement of emotional distress and it even says in the statute no treatment or counseling is needed. Basically this gives the victim full power over your legal future. Imagine your ex-girlfriend is mad about your break-up and calls the police to report you as repeatedly contacting her in person and over the phone in an act of revenge. If she claims she suffered serious emotional distress, you could be facing Stalking charges.
Domestic Violence Stalking
In this case, Stalking is probably the appropriate charge, seeing as this is an extreme example. Whatever charges this woman faces, the punishment could all be worsened with the Domestic Violence sentence enhancer. The charge would be Domestic Violence Stalking, which is treated more seriously by judges and District Attorneys. The DV addition would force the woman to pay for and complete Domestic Violence treatment along with other penalties.