Wyoming lawmakers have voted to begin drafting legislation that would create a felony offense for adults who stalk minors at least three years younger than themselves—a move aimed at closing a gap in the state’s current stalking laws.
Under existing law (W.S. 6-2-506), stalking is generally treated as a misdemeanor, carrying penalties of up to one year in jail and a fine of up to $750. The offense may rise to a felony under certain aggravating circumstances, such as physical harm or violation of a protection order. However, there is no distinction in statute between stalking involving adult victims versus underage ones.
That may soon change. During a meeting of the Wyoming Legislature’s Joint Judiciary Committee in Torrington this week, lawmakers heard emotional testimony from teenage victims and their families, prompting bipartisan support for a bill that would treat adult-on-minor stalking as a felony offense.
Among those who testified was Glenrock High School student Gillian Holman, who shared her experience of being stalked and harassed for over a year by a 41-year-old woman, Marcie Smith. Holman detailed how the situation escalated from anonymous text messages to fears for her personal safety, eventually resulting in a restraining order. Smith was later found guilty of stalking and sentenced to probation and counseling.
“This is what Wyoming’s current stalking laws have done,” Holman told the committee. “They give room for a 40-year-old to stalk, torment and harass a child and walk away with barely a slap on the wrist.”
Another Glenrock student, Preston Sorensen, was also stalked by the same individual. His mother, Brandi Sorensen, described how her son, a state champion wrestler, was left terrified by the experience. Their testimonies moved several committee members, including Rep. Joe Webb (R-Lyman), who expressed regret over the current legal shortcomings.
“We have a problem in Wyoming,” Webb said, his voice breaking. “You’ve made it clear we have the responsibility to correct it.”
Cara Chambers, director of the Division of Victim Services at the Wyoming Attorney General’s Office, pointed to a prior legislative effort—House Bill 189 (“Harmful communication – minors”)—as an example of how similar behavior could have been criminalized as a felony. Although HB 189 passed in the House, it failed to clear the Senate.
In addition to the stalking legislation, the committee voted to draft a second bill modeled after Montana law, aimed at criminalizing grooming behavior. That bill would include sex offender registration requirements upon conviction.
Holman concluded her testimony with a plea to protect future victims.
“It is not easy to continuously share what happened, but I have to at least try to make it better for future stalking victims in Wyoming.”
With input from the Sheridan Press and Gillette News Record.
