Wyoming student advocates for stricter stalking laws after distressing experience

A Glen Rock High School student has brought a powerful plea to the Wyoming Legislature, urging lawmakers to strengthen stalking laws after enduring a year of harassment from an adult. The 16-year-old shared her harrowing experience during a recent government meeting, highlighting the inadequacies of current legal protections for minors.

The student recounted being stalked and bullied by a 40-year-old woman from her community, who used anonymous communication to undermine her character and disrupt her life. Despite the severity of the situation, the student learned that the punishment for stalking in Wyoming is merely a misdemeanor, comparable to littering, which she found deeply unjust.

“I thought that it didn’t seem right,” she stated, emphasizing the disparity in consequences for serious offenses against minors. The woman involved received only two years of unsupervised probation and fines, leaving the student feeling unsafe and vulnerable, especially in their small town where they frequently cross paths.

In her emotional testimony, she called for legislative change, proposing that stalking laws be amended to classify adult stalking of minors as a felony, punishable by up to 10 years in prison and $10,000 in fines. She also urged lawmakers to reconsider House Bill 189, which could have provided stronger protections for victims like her.

The student’s courageous stand has sparked discussions about the need for reform in Wyoming’s stalking laws, aiming to ensure that minors receive the protection they deserve from adult offenders. As the legislature considers her request, the implications of her testimony could lead to significant changes in how stalking cases are handled in the state.