People v. Lai CA3

BACKGROUND

Defendant was convicted of stalking three different women.

A.W.

In April 2019, A.W. was at a gas station and was approximately seven months pregnant. She was pumping gas when defendant drove up to her and asked if she was single. A.W. laughed and said no, after which defendant drove away. The next month, A.W. was at a Wal-Mart at approximately 9:00 p.m. when she turned around and saw defendant a few feet away. He again asked if she was single, to which she responded, “Didn’t we already have this conversation?” Defendant indicated no, to which A.W. stated she was not single. About 15 minutes later, while checking out of the store, A.W. again noticed defendant this time staring at her with a “blank stare.” As she was with her two sisters and her two-year-old son, she went to her car and got in, at which time she realized defendant was “parked in backwards, staring at me with his headlights.” A.W. was very fearful as she was so pregnant and could not defend her sisters or her son if she needed to. She was afraid defendant would follow her home as she lived by herself. A.W. drove to a gas station upon leaving Wal-Mart and began pumping gas. About two minutes later…