People v. Hoppers CA2/6

FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY

Hoppers and R.M. were in a relationship for several years. In June 2018, Hoppers was convicted of committing battery against R.M. (Case No. 18CR02380). He was placed on three years’ probation. After their relationship ended, R.M. asked Hoppers multiple times to stop contacting her, but he refused. Hoppers contacted her several times a day. At times, he threatened to hurt himself or leak nude photos of her to her family and employer if she did not agree to meet with him. Between November 2018 and October 2019, R.M. changed her place of residence three times to evade Hoppers. Each time, Hoppers would find out where she lived and show up at her door “almost every day.” R.M. also changed her phone number four times, but Hoppers would find her phone number and call or text her using a different number. Hoppers also showed up at R.M.’s workplace on four occasions. R.M. said she was “concerned for [her] safety.” In September 2019, Hoppers was served with a criminal protective order, which prohibited him from contacting R.M. In January 2020, the Santa Barbara County District Attorney charged Hoppers with four counts of various offenses involving R.M. (i.e.,…