"But none of that applies in your case. You're both here in Michigan. And even if you were in a different state and he followed you there...well, under federal law, it's not enough for you to feel harassed or to be afraid. Patch would have to follow across state lines with the intent to kill, injure, harass, or intimidate you. Proving intent to harass and intent to intimidate is tough; stalkers often don't see any reason for their victims to not welcome their attentions."
"So my best bet would be to hope that he tried to hurt or kill me?" This was insane. I couldn't have heard that right.
"That--and that you had video and audio records of him attacking you at least twice. Twice or more indicates a pattern of behavior, you see."
"That's. Fucking. DEMENTED!"
"Yes. It is."
Hearing her admit this didn't make me feel any better.
"And it gets worse," she continued. "Because he's sixteen, seventeen, somewhere in there, right? Well, stalking in Michigan is a misdemeanor. The penalty for the first offense is one year and/or $1,000 fine, and up to five years probation. He probably wouldn't get a year in prison--not at his age. Unless he hurt or killed you, he'd most likely get a year in juvie, and maybe a year's probation. When he turned eighteen, that record would be sealed. No matter how much stalking and sexual harassment he committed, the case would disappear. There'd be nothing to tell any law enforcement agency that Patch had ever been a stalker...and that he'd probably become one again.
"I'm so sorry, Nora. But there isn't a thing I can do." And she hung up.
I stared at the cellphone in my hand, wondering when my life had turned into a horror movie.
Spitefic: Resolve, Part 3
"Yes. But only under certain circumstances. A stalker can't cross state, tribal or international lines--personally, by mail, by email or by cyberstalking. And he can't stalk on federal land like national parks or military bases.
"But none of that applies in your case. You're both here in Michigan. And even if you were in a different state and he followed you there...well, under federal law, it's not enough for you to feel harassed or to be afraid. Patch would have to follow across state lines with the intent to kill, injure, harass, or intimidate you. Proving intent to harass and intent to intimidate is tough; stalkers often don't see any reason for their victims to not welcome their attentions."
"So my best bet would be to hope that he tried to hurt or kill me?" This was insane. I couldn't have heard that right.
"That--and that you had video and audio records of him attacking you at least twice. Twice or more indicates a pattern of behavior, you see."
"That's. Fucking. DEMENTED!"
"Yes. It is."
Hearing her admit this didn't make me feel any better.
"And it gets worse," she continued. "Because he's sixteen, seventeen, somewhere in there, right? Well, stalking in Michigan is a misdemeanor. The penalty for the first offense is one year and/or $1,000 fine, and up to five years probation. He probably wouldn't get a year in prison--not at his age. Unless he hurt or killed you, he'd most likely get a year in juvie, and maybe a year's probation. When he turned eighteen, that record would be sealed. No matter how much stalking and sexual harassment he committed, the case would disappear. There'd be nothing to tell any law enforcement agency that Patch had ever been a stalker...and that he'd probably become one again.
"I'm so sorry, Nora. But there isn't a thing I can do." And she hung up.
I stared at the cellphone in my hand, wondering when my life had turned into a horror movie.