Thomas M.--a 50-year-old man from Dutchess County, New York--went trolling on Facebook and came across a profile and photo of a 19-year-old woman he had supposedly seen around town. When she later "unfriended" him, Thomas allegedly began to "stalk" the poor kid—by riding past her in his vehicle and staring at her.
Because she felt "uncomfortable … scared … and in reasonable fear of physical injury," the lady filed a criminal complaint and Thomas was eventually arrested and convicted of "harassment in the first degree."
On appeal, the Appellate Term, Second Department, overturned the conviction because Thomas had never been "threatening or abusive." Since there had been no encounter "permeated with hostile overtones," the AT2 was of the view the woman's alleged fear of harm wasn't "objectively reasonable."
Now that's creepy.
To view a copy of the Appellate Term's decision, please use the following link: People v. M.