Governor signs stalking bills into law

DOUGLAS — Gov. Mark Gordon was surrounded by numerous legislators and other VIPs, including Sen. Brian Boner, R-Douglas,  and Converse County Commissioner Robert Short, as he signed bills March 5. None of the bills on Gordon’s desk were more important to Glenrock mothers Cathy Holman and Brandi Sorensen than HB 8, “Stalking of Minors,” and HB 9, “Grooming of Children: Offenses and Amendments.”

The bills would not have been passed – let alone introduced – without them.

Holman, with the help of Boner and other legislators, wanted to make an adult stalking a minor a felony after her own daughter, Gillian, and Brandi Sorensen’s son, Preston, were stalked by 41-year old Marcie Smith of Glenrock.

Ultimately, via a no-contest plea, Smith was sentenced to two years of unsupervised probation and $1,390 in fines and fees for misdemeanor stalking on March 19 of last year.

While the passage of HB 8, which makes an adult stalking a minor a felony, will bring no “justice to her family,” Holman said it is good to know it will help others in the future.

“So our big joke is, it is amazing what two angry moms can do,” Holman said during the signing. “It’s a bittersweet moment, I think, because our families will not have justice, but what an honor to know that no one else will have to feel the same way that we felt. And we also wanted to say thank you to the people of Wyoming, because when we spoke up and asked for help, governor, they flooded, flooded all of our legislators with emails and conversations and phone calls,” she said.

HB 9 clarified language in existing law while making it a felony for an adult who grooms a minor, as well as defining punishment for various levels.

Sorensen said she is grateful HB 9 is going to protect kids.

“It does fill a gap, and I’m so glad to see that that’s being recognized . . . I’m grateful that my son let me tell part of his story because that’s a very hard thing to do. But that’s how we get stuff done – is we stand up for our kids,” Sorensen said.

Boner called the legislation an important step.

“I think the process went perfectly for everyone to get this in front of the Judiciary Committee during the interim,” he said.

HB 9 went into effect immediately March 5, and HB 8 will become effective July 1.

Holman admitted the signing was definitely “emotional and bittersweet.”

“Gillian was incredibly emotional, especially after Governor Gordon gave her the governor’s coin, which was an absolute honor and an acknowledgment of what she’s been through – and how she’s persevered for the good of the state of Wyoming,” Holman said.

When asked what is next for their family, Holman said, “I wish I could say we will work on relaxing and healing, but as our family continues to be targeted, I honestly don’t know. We just

had another incident last Friday where a 55-year-old man flipped Gillian off at a basketball game and was waiting in the parking lot for her.”

For now, Holman said they are focusing on Gillian’s senior year and moving forward into the future she’s chosen with her family. Gillian committed to the University of Wyoming, where she will major in accounting and minor in agriculture.

“I can see more projects together ahead for Brandi and (me). I plan to continue, as I always have, to be an advocate for the people of Wyoming and use my platform to help others. It’s our new normal . . . this is the crime of stalking and we aren’t alone in these kinds of experiences. Hopefully, our legislators and law enforcement can look at the laws we have and see what more work we need to do,” Holman stated.