THE AUTHOR
Greg Hill
Ten Year Restraining Order Proper for Mother who Stalks Husband and Scares Daughter
Mrs. Clayburg was charged in San Luis Obispo Superior Court with and convicted of misdemeanor stalking. She was sentenced to two years and eight months in prison. Furthermore, the judge ordered that Mrs. Clayburg have no contact with her daughter for ten years, under Penal Code § 646.9(k)(1). BY GREG HILL
Nancy Clayburg had a daughter with B. Clayburg. In April of 2007,
the two separated. At the time, their daughter was nine years old.
The daughter stayed with Mr. Clayburg.
In November of 2007, Mrs. Clayburg went to her husband’s house,
where her daughter then lived. She took a Lynx Black Cat golf club
with her and pounded on the front door of the house, demanding
custody of her daughter. The daughter was inside and heard the
pounding, but B. did not open the door. B. told Mrs. Clayburg he
would call the police. Their daughter “saw her mom and then ran to
her room, crying.”
Two months later, in January, 2008, Mrs. Clayburg left a message on
B.’s voicemail, saying the devil will get B. and “God will let this
happen.” When the message was played back, the couple’s daughter
heard it. This scared the daughter. In the same month, in a family
law court hearing, the daughter testified that “she was afraid that
if she (her mom) saw B., she would physically harm him and then face
criminal charges.”
In December, 2008, Mrs. Clayburg again went to B.’s house. This
time, she spread manure “all over” B.’s porch and driveway.
Later, someone smashed four of the six windows in B.’s truck. A Lynx
Black Cat golf club was found next to the truck.
Mr. Clayburg then obtained restraining orders against Mrs. Clayburg.
Shortly thereafter, at 1:30 a.m., while B. and his daughter were
sleeping, Mrs. Calyburg came to B.’s house and shattered the windows
in B.’s dining room, bedroom and French doors. B.’s daughter awoke
when the glass was breaking and “got really scared.” Mrs. Clayburg
also shattered windshields of B.’s brother’s vehicle, which was
parked in the driveway.
Mrs. Clayburg was then charged in San Luis Obispo Superior Court
with and convicted of misdemeanor stalking (Penal Code § 646.9(a)).
She was sentenced to two years and eight months in prison.
Furthermore, the judge ordered that Mrs. Clayburg have no contact
with her daughter for ten years, under Penal Code § 646.9(k)(1).
Mrs. Clayburg appealed the protective order in so far as it
prevented her from contact with her daughter, as her daughter was
not a named victim of the stalking.
The Second Appellate District, in People v. Nancy Lynn Clayburg
(2012 DJDAR 15638), affirmed the trial court judge’s ten year
protective order. The appellate court looked at Penal Code §
646.9(k)(1), wherein the judge had discretion to issue such an order
“based upon the seriousness of the facts before the court, the
probability of future violations, and the safety of the victim and
his or her immediate family.”
In response to Mrs. Clayburg’s argument that since the prosecutor
did not name her daughter as a victim, the judge could not issue a
protective order for her, the appellate court commented that the
statute must be liberally construed, as it is remedial, rather than
punitive, in nature. To adopt Mrs. Clayburg’s interpretation “would
not prevent the mischief at which it is directed.”
Moreover, classifying the daughter as a victim for purpose of a
post-conviction restraining order was also consistent with the
latest legal definition of “victim:” as “a person harmed by a crime,
tort, or other wrong.” Black’s Law Dictionary (9th Ed; 2009).
Justice Perren dissented from the majority, pointing out that the
charge of stalking the daughter was dismissed prior to trial. He
also stated that the first sentence of Penal Code § 646.9(k)
identifies the power to the court to issue a protective order in
favor of the victim. It does not have any language that suggests a
liberal construction is appropriate.
About the Author
If you are charged with grand theft, do not trust your defense to an inexperienced lawyer who may not understand the current state of the law. Greg Hill is an attorney in Torrance, California. He is a U.S. Naval Academy graduate (B.S., 1987), Boston University graduate (M.B.A., 1994) and Loyola Law School graduate (J.D., 1998).
Greg Hill & Associates represents clients in Torrance, Long Beach
and the surrounding areas in theft matters, as well as DUI, domestic
violence and restraining orders, among other crimes
