Victims ask lawmakers to put stalkers in prison for 20 years

CARSON CITY - Lawmakers considering an anti-stalking bill pushed by comedian Jerry Lewis said Wednesday that a 20-year sentence won't help victims - but increasing the minimum sentence may.

Victims gave the Senate Judiciary Committee tearful testimony, saying stalkers harass their victims for years, sometimes even contacting them from prison.

Assemblywoman Sheila Leslie, D-Reno, said AB363 would give judges the flexibility to sentence stalkers to prison for up to 20 years in a few extreme cases.

But Senate Judiciary Chairman Mark James, R-Las Vegas, said the one- to 20-year prison sentence doesn't mesh with Nevada's other sentencing laws. He pointed out that the sentence for voluntary manslaughter is shorter than that.

"If you actually kill someone, it's one to 10 years," James said.

Las Vegas prosecutor Abby Silver, who worked on the Jerry Lewis case, told lawmakers the 20-year sentence was appropriate in a handful of cases.

"I don't think these people have any respect for the law, from what I've seen, because they keep stalking," she said.

While doing research for the new sentence, Assistant Attorney General Tom Patton said he looked at sentences for embezzlement, car theft and unlawful use of an ATM card - all of which are punishable by up to 10 years in prison.

"In extreme cases, stalking is tantamount to very long-term psychological terrorism and it has a propensity to escalate to violent actions," Patton said.

While the committee did not take a vote on amending the bill, James suggested a two- to 15-year prison sentence.

The original bill would have upped the current 6-year maximum for aggravated stalking to 15 years. But after hearing testimony from several stalking victims, the Assembly Judiciary Committee further increased the penalty to 20 years.

There are 23 people in Nevada prisons for stalking. That includes the man who terrorized Lewis and his family before he was sent to prison for aggravated stalking.

Lewis urged the Assembly in March to increase penalties, saying the 15-year penalty isn't enough to deter would-be stalkers. He asked for 25 years.

Three women and one man told the Senate committee they understood the constant fear Lewis and other victims felt.

"This crime drives the victim underground," said Tracy Panzarella, a Reno woman who was stalked for three years by a former boyfriend.

Another stalking victim, Lynn Lazovich, said she was targeted by a total stranger who followed her for more than five months before being caught by police.

She missed work, changed her phone number, bought caller identification and number blocking services and eventually began staying with friends and family members to avoid the constant barrage of threatening phone calls.

Lazovich said she felt that most of the police officers who responded to her calls were insensitive and didn't take her seriously.

"I can't tell you how many times I was asked if I was sure I didn't know this person," she said. "The response I got was 'get a roommate, get a dog."'

To help law enforcement understand the severity of the crime, Leslie's bill would also mandate that officers get additional training to learn how to better respond to stalking calls.

But while law enforcement generally likes the increased jail time provided by AB363, the committee was told some agencies feel mandated training is unwarranted.

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