Recent Posts in Stalking Category

In a Los Angeles Superior Court, Robert Michael O'Ryan was charged with one felony count each of stalking and commercial burglary, along with two misdemeanor counts of carrying a loaded firearm in a vehicle.  O'Ryan had driven from Florida to Los Angeles while Shawn Johnson was on Dancing with the Stars in hopes of being able to meet and marry the Olympic gold medal winner.  He was arrested when he tried to jump over a fence at CBS Studios and authorities found a loaded shotgun, knife, and sharpening stone in the suspect's vehicle, along with a wooden club, duct tape, 22 zip ties, a bulletproof vest and love letters to Shawn Johnson.

Judge Pastor found O'Ryan guilty on all counts, however, after considering the evaluations of two psychiatrists, he ruled that O'Ryan was legally insane at the time of his arrest last March.  If found sane, O'Ryan faced up to six years in prison, a sentence he will likely serve in a state mental hospital.

If you or someone you know has been charged with stalking, burglary, or concealed weapons, contact Los Angeles Criminal Defense Attorney Robert M. Bernstein for a free consultation today.

California has recently enacted new stalking and criminal threats laws in order to give more protection to California school teachers.  Through the enactment of new stalking and criminal threats laws, it is now a misdemeanor, punishable by up to 1 year imprisonment and/or a $1,000 fine, to publish information on the internet or otherwise, describing or depicting an academic researcher or their immediate family, or the location or locations where an academic researcher or immediate family members may be found, with the intent that another person use the information to commit a crime involving violence or a threat of violence against an academic researcher or their family members.  The new law is codified in Penal Code section 422.4.

However, the new law not only protects teachers from cyber stalking and harassment, it is a misdemeanor, punishable by up to 1 year imprisonment and/or a $1,000 fine, applicable to anyone with intent to place any person in reasonable fear for his or her safety, or the safety of their immediate family, by means of an electronic communication device such as telephones, cell phones, computers, Internet Web pages or sites, Internet phones, hybrid cellular/Internet/wireless devices, personal digital assistants (PDAs), video recorders, fax machines, or pagers.  This includes electronically distributing, publishing, e-mailing, hyperlinking, or making another's personal information available for downloading.  See Penal Code section 653.2.

If you know anyone who requires an attorney for Cyber-Stalking in California, contact  Los Angeles Criminal Defense Attorney, Robert M. Bernstein.