More protection for future cyberstalking victims is a signature away after the State Assembly recently gave final passage to a bill expanding the legal definition of the crime in a unanimous voice vote.
The Cyberstalking Protection Act, co-authored by State Sen. André Jacque of De Pere and State Rep. Ron Tusler of Harrison, updates statutes to include modern social media communications.
While cyberstalking cases can be prosecuted under current law, this bill expands Wisconsin’s stalking statutes to specifically include text messages, email, web applications, and social media.
The authors drafted the legislation at the request of Nikie Offield of Green Bay, whose family was victimized by this cyber harassment. But the stalking charge against the offender was dismissed due to a loophole that the phone never rang, even though the accused sent the victim thousands of harassing text messages.
Rep. Tusler and Sen. Jacque said they hoped Gov. Evers would quickly sign the bill into law.
