Witt Harasser Loses Plea for Shorter Term

The federal appellate route has run out for a Westminster man convicted of sending threatening letters to Olympic ice-skating champion Katarina Witt, his attorney said Wednesday.

The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals recently rejected a request to reduce the sentence of Harry Veltman III, 49, a former crop-duster who was sentenced in June, 1992, to 37 months in federal prison, said federal Public Defender H. Dean Steward.

The professional figure skater testified during a Santa Ana trial that she feared for her life after Veltman sent her nude photos and obscene love letters. Veltman also stalked her and once showed up on her doorstep at 3 a.m. to scream his love for her, she testified.

“It’s over for him, in terms of having his sentenced reduced,” said Steward, who appealed the sentence because he believed it too harsh. “At this point, all I can hope is that things will go well for him when he is released.”

Steward said he had concerns that media attention, the celebrity victim and heightened awareness of “stalking” cases unfairly influenced the case. An 18-month sentence would have been more appropriate, he said.

Prosecutors opposed the sentence reduction.

Veltman, who has been found to be a paranoid schizophrenic, has been serving his sentence in a psychiatric hospital.