CAMARILLO : Man Arrested on Suspicion of Stalking

A Port Hueneme man convicted of setting his ex-wife’s car on fire three years ago has been arrested on suspicion of stalking her while armed with a pistol, authorities said Monday.

Jesus Medina Macaulay, 38, was taken into custody Sunday evening at a Camarillo fast-food restaurant after he confronted his former wife, Audrey Ducharme, and her husband, David, Sheriff’s Sgt. Mike Barnes said.

The Ducharmes had pulled off the Ventura Freeway after their truck overheated. They discovered that someone had slashed the vehicle’s radiator hose while they danced at a Thousand Oaks club, Barnes said.

While waiting for the truck to cool off, the Ducharmes walked to the fast-food restaurant. There, they spotted Macaulay standing inside the restaurant watching them.

David Ducharme asked employees to call police as Macaulay went outside and began yelling at his ex-wife.

When sheriff’s deputies arrived, they searched Macaulay’s car and found a derringer pistol on the front seat and several bullets nearby.

Macaulay was arrested on suspicion of violating a restraining order against him, of stalking his ex-wife and of carrying a firearm in violation of his probation. Macaulay, who was being held in Ventura County Jail on $100,000 bail, is scheduled to be arraigned today at 1:30 p.m. in Ventura County Municipal Court.

Macaulay told detectives that he did not sabotage the car and that Sunday night’s encounter was a coincidence.

Audrey Ducharme said the incident is nothing new. She said her husband has followed her periodically and threatened her since their divorce in 1992.

“I think he was planning to get rid of us,” she said. “He had the derringer right there next to him.”

Macaulay was convicted of setting his ex-wife’s car on fire as she visited a friend in Ventura in October, 1991. He was sentenced to 180 days in jail and five years probation.