Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, March 17, 1992 TAG: 9203170180
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A-2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: ROB EURE STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Medium
"This is much-needed legislation," Wilder said Monday. "These are very clever people who stay just this side of the law."
Wilder said he will ask legislators to make stalking a crime immediately with approval of the amendment by the General Assembly on April 15, when it reconvenes to consider amendments or vetos to their work.
Wilder said Roanoke Valley legislators, concerned about a man reportedly stalking schoolchildren in the Raleigh Court neighborhood, joined officials from across the state in urging him to sign the measure.
Fear of the stalker apparently prompted a lost Roanoke kindergartner to hide Thursday night, delaying his discovery until late Friday evening.
"It's a very serious thing," Wilder said. "Stalking takes any number of forms."
Wilder said he is not concerned that under the law the first and second offenses of stalking would qualify as misdemeanors, since there is no legal recourse for the activity now.
The law will give police the chance to take fingerprints and establish records on people charged with the crime, making it easier to establish danger in cases of stalking, he said.
Wilder said the measure, sponsored by Del. Glenn Croshaw, D-Virginia Beach, has not yet cleared his own staff legal review, but he gave every indication he plans to sign it. "I strongly support it," he said.
The law would apply to "any person who on more than one occasion engages in conduct with the intent to cause emotional distress to another person by placing that person in reasonable fear of death or bodily injury."
Lawyers have said the language of the bill would most likely apply to the actions of the so-called Raleigh Court stalker.
The origin of the bill, however, stems from problems experienced mostly by women who were involved in divorce or domestic disputes. The bill was part of Attorney General Mary Sue Terry's crime package for the past session that grew out of her task force on domestic violence.
Del. Clifton Woodrum, D-Roanoke, who led the Roanoke Valley legislators in asking for an emergency clause to the bill, said last week that he has received numerous calls about the bill.
"The outpouring from this bill . . . has been a groundswell" from people who have been victims of stalking, Woodrum said.
Meanwhile, concerned parents in Raleigh Court were waiting uneasily to see if the stalker returns before the legislation goes into effect.
David Camper, president of the Greater Raleigh Court Civic League, said Monday that he was not aware of any sightings of the man since his actions first became public last week.
Some fears were eased when 5-year-old Scottie Wimmer - who said he hid for 32 hours under a piece of plywood in fear of the stalker - was found unharmed Friday night.
Still, the community is so angry at the stalker's actions that Camper has repeatedly urged citizens to wait for police to handle the incident instead of taking matters into their own hands.
Camper said he even received an anonymous call from someone who wanted the stalker's name and address, promising they would "take care" of the man.
It's that kind of vigilantism that Camper hopes to avoid. "He's in danger, I would think, with the way people over here feel about it," he said.
Staff writer Laurence Hammack contributed to this story.
by CNB