People v. Whitsitt CA3

BACKGROUND

In 2019, C.M. met Whitsitt at a church service and spoke with him briefly. At another service, Whitsitt approached C.M. and asked if she had a problem talking or interacting with him. C.M. did not wish to communicate with Whitsitt. Whitsitt attended a college class with C.M. After the class, he approached her and handed her a letter. C.M. told him that he was not allowed to talk to or approach her, but he insisted on giving her the letter, which, among other things, expressed his desire to be closer to her. Whitsitt followed C.M. around campus. C.M. was afraid of him following, watching, and staring at her. In September 2019, C.M. obtained a restraining order against Whitsitt. He continued to follow her, and she called the police multiple times. He continued to mail letters to her at her residence. The letters made her feel more threatened. An information filed in July 2021 in case No. STK-CR-FDV-2021-0003804 charged Whitsitt with stalking Jane C. Doe (§ 646.9, subd. (a); count one), stalking C.M. while a protective order was in effect (§ 646.9, subd. (b); count two), and four counts of misdemeanor contempt of court for disobeying a court order (§ 166, subd. (a)(4);…