Dancer Faces Trial in Stalking

A former Las Vegas topless dancer accused of creating a Web site with sexually explicit photos of her ex-lover was ordered Wednesday to stand trial on suspicion of cyber-stalking.

Robin Kelly, a 43-year-old Simi Valley resident known on stage as “Ruby Tuesday,” says she only wanted an apology from the former lover and never intended to harm anyone.

But Ventura County prosecutors contend that Kelly threatened and harassed the man and his wife after he ended the seven-year affair.

“This is a case where the victims were in fear,” argued Deputy Dist. Atty. Tom Temple, calling Kelly “obsessed.”

According to testimony at a preliminary hearing Wednesday in Superior Court, Kelly began the affair in 1993 with Jim Day, an editorial cartoonist for the Las Vegas Review-Journal. When he broke off the relationship last year, she allegedly became furious.

Kelly is charged with setting up an Internet site that featured photographs of their sexual trysts and drawings of skulls and a black rose dripping blood. The site included photos of Day’s car, home, license plate and a map with directions to his Las Vegas home, prosecutors said.

Kelly also allegedly sent postcards advertising the site to Day’s family, neighbors and co-workers.

For more than a year, officers testified, Kelly called Day on a daily or weekly basis. She also allegedly left envelopes containing sexually explicit photos strewn around the neighborhood and at his children’s school.

Simi Valley Police Officer Richard Wigginton, who interviewed Day, said the man’s reputation was “destroyed.” Wigginton said Day feared that he would lose his job and that Kelly could harm his family.

“He just wanted the harassment to stop,” the officer testified.

Kelly was arrested Nov. 13 and charged with two counts each of stalking, making annoying phone calls and witness intimidation, as well as one count of violating a restraining order.

She also was charged with attempted extortion in an April 8 incident in which she allegedly offered to return the photos if Day would rent an apartment for her.

The Web site was taken down last month under court order.

According to police, Kelly told officers during an interview that Day had wronged her. But her attorney argued at the hearing that there was no proof that Kelly acted on her scorned feelings by threatening Day or his wife.

Deputy Public Defender Denise McPeak said there was not sufficient evidence to hold her client on felony stalking charges.

But Temple argued that threats were implied in letters and on the Web site. He noted that in a Nov. 26 letter, Kelly told Day: “The war has just begun.”

Superior County Judge Roland Purnell found that there was enough evidence to hold Kelly for trial on all the charges. An arraignment hearing is set for Jan. 4.

Kelly faces up to seven years in state prison if convicted. She also faces related misdemeanor charges in Nevada.

The judge rejected the defense’s request to lower bail, and ordered Kelly to remain held in lieu of $200,000.

As she walked to a holding cell, Kelly turned to the judge and grumbled: “Merry Christmas.”