San Angelo Stalker Sentenced to 10 Years Probation

A 30-year-old San Angelo man was sentenced to 10 years probation Wednesday in Judge Jay Weatherby’s 340th District Court, after entering a guilty plea to stalking his ex-girlfriend over a span of several months.

Hector Lopez was indicted on the charge in July last year, following an investigation into several complaints made by victim Sabrina Garcia.

A complaint filed with the 340th District Court depicts several incidents between October 2012 and April 2013, in which Lopez is reported to have followed Garcia with various vehicles, waited for her outside of her workplace and sent disconcerting messages via telephone and Facebook.

Twice, the complaint states, Lopez pulled his car in front of Garcia’s and slammed on the brakes, exiting his vehicle to run to her window and demand she speak with him. Garcia managed to get away in both instances, but was followed into parking lots or awaited in the lot outside her workplace on other occasions.

Between Oct. 16, 2012 and May 10, 2013, Lopez wrote several messages to Garcia, which were interpreted as threats and “caused fear”.

“Ur making my holidays so expletive up for me sab dat I’m smelling death around da corner,” one message read, while others stated, “I like da way yall switch rides dats a good one I’ll see u soon,” and “I know ur every move SAB”.

A warrant for Lopez’s arrest was issued on July 9, 2013, and was found hiding under a bed in the 600 block of 18th St. two days later. Although he had been ordered several times to place his hands behind his back, Lopez refused to comply, an officer’s report states, and had to be forcefully handcuffed. Officers located a claw hammer at his side during the struggle.

Wednesday, Lopez had a plea hearing for the stalking charge, and for failure to appear at a previous court date. He was given 10 years probation for each charge, which will run concurrently.

Stalking is a third-degree felony punishable by 2-10 years confinement. Should Lopez violate the terms of his probation, he could be imprisoned for the full 10 years.