SAUGUS : Man Sentenced for Stalking, Petty Theft

A Saugus man was sentenced to 90 days in jail after pleading no contest to misdemeanor charges that he stalked and repeatedly made harassing phone calls to a neighbor, the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office said Thursday.

James Eugene Turner, 48, who was being held in lieu of $1-million bail, also pleaded no contest Wednesday in Newhall Municipal Court to a charge of petty theft, Deputy Dist. Atty. Pam Springer said.

Judge Alan S. Rosenfield sentenced Turner to 90 days in jail and three years of summary probation, Springer said.

As part of his probation, Turner was ordered to have no contact with the victim, Maria Menard, and not to come within 100 yards of Menard or her home, Springer said. Turner is also not permitted to possess any firearms or deadly weapons and was forbidden to drink alcoholic beverages during his probation.

Should Turner violate the probation terms, he could face a two-year sentence, Springer said. Upon his release from jail, Turner will move to Colorado, she said.

The petty theft charge stemmed from the discovery in Turner’s home of a pair of shoes that had been stolen from Menard’s front porch, Springer said.

In addition, sheriff’s deputies seized a journal that showed Turner closely monitored Menard’s activities for at least three months, officials said. They said deputies also installed a device on Menard’s telephone that traced harassing calls to Turner.