Actor Jamie Foxx made headlines again recently for being stalkedin Philadelphia where he is currently shooting his latest film. On three separate occasions in late March, 49 year-old Steven Taliver (also known as William Brown), tried to break into the Academy Award winner's hotel room. The suspect allegedly claimed to be singer Beyonce's music producer. On at least one occasion, Foxx is said to have become physically forceful, pushing Taliver out of his hotel room and slamming the door. Several days later, Foxx's security guards spotted Taliver hanging around the film set and he was then taken into police custody. Taliver reportedly has 24 prior arrests and is currently facing several criminal charges, including burglary. Add stalking to the list.
Stalking, legally defined, is a repeated series of encounters that puts one person in fear of their personal safety. Statistically, 75% of stalking victims are women. Stalkers typically make repeated attempts to contact a person, famous or not, that can be through the Internet, phone calls, personal contact or any one of several other methods. This repeated attempt at communication is considered stalking when the person on the receiving end of this persistent behavior starts to feel threatened. In most non-celebrity cases, stalking is usually the result of domestic violence. Stalking victims often file restraining orders against their stalkers that require them to not come within a specified distance of them. Violations of these restraining orders can also qualify as a separate criminal offense.
In Los Angeles, stalking can carry harsh penalties and can be either a misdemeanor or a felony depending on the circumstances. For a misdemeanor stalking conviction, up to a year in a county jail is often handed down as punishment. A felony stalking conviction could land you in a state prison for up to five years, which is likely what will happen in Taliver's case, though Pennsylvania's statutes on stalking may differ. This unwanted behavior can be difficult to prove in stalking cases. A good criminal defense lawyer will know exactly what kind of behavior qualifies as stalking and could possibly get charges against you dropped. Rapper Nate Dogg (real name Nathaniel Dwayne Hale) was charged with stalking his estranged wife in Los Angeles in June of 2008, along with making criminal threats to her. This week all charges against him were dropped by Los Angeles prosecutors.
If you have been charged with stalking, call the attorneys at Rodriguez, Lewis & Kahn today at (213) 223-2173 to begin defending yourself.
