Silt trustee says stalking charge against him is bogus

Letter from Carbondale couple alleges other problems with Hays

By Pete Fowler
Post Independent Staff
March 28, 2008

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GLENWOOD SPRINGS, Colorado — A judge ruled Wednesday that a felony stalking charge against Silt Town Trustee Bobby Hays could be changed to allege he stalked a woman as early as January 2000.

The charge originally alleged Hays, 49, stalked the woman from May to August 2007.

The Garfield County Sheriff’s Office arrested Hays Aug. 8 after he allegedly followed
the woman home from a softball game and blocked her driveway. The woman said
he’s followed her and driven by her house since 2000, and she made a report to the
Sheriff’s Office in 2002 about the behavior, according to an arrest affidavit.

The woman told a deputy that she tried unsuccessfully to get a restraining order
against Hays before, and that Hays said God told him they were married, the affidavit
says.

Hays has said the accusations are bogus and he can’t discuss the matter further
because it’s still going through the court process. He pleaded not guilty in January.
His attorney, Greg Greer, couldn’t be reached.

A letter from a Carbondale couple to a judge and the 9th Judicial District Attorney’s
Office asks for a “permanent restraining order.” It says they met Hays at the Assembly
of God Church in Glenwood almost seven years ago and found him to be
confrontational. They became concerned when police showed up during a church
service looking for Hays, the letter says, and he had run downstairs to the kitchen and
just grinned when asked if he was in trouble.

The couple found out from church leaders about the stalking allegations and were
told the church was counseling Hays, the letter says. The church eventually asked
Hays not to come back, at which point he began parking his vehicle across the street
from the church, the couple wrote.

The letter says two years later ushers at the New Creation Church in Canyon Creek
asked Hays to leave because the alleged victim was there. Hays argued with them
but eventually left, the letter says, adding the couple recommended he seek
counseling for his “fixation” with the woman. The letter says the couple’s personal
accounts of Hays are important because they show the “stalking” isn’t an isolated
incident.

The alleged victim wrote in court papers, “This has had an effect on every part of my life. I am continuing looking over my shoulder to see if Bobby Hays is lurking in the shadows.”

She wrote that she’s installed a security system in her home and cut down nearby bushes and trees, but doesn’t feel safe there. She asked for the maximum legal punishment, including prison, counseling and anger control treatment.

The stalking charge carries a presumptive maximum sentence of three years in
prison and up to a $100,000 fine. However, there’s no requirement for mandatory
prison or jail time. Silt officials have said there’s no reason Hays would be removed
from his role as a trustee unless he’s actually convicted of a crime.

Hays said Wednesday that the charges are bogus and have nothing to do with his
service as Silt town trustee. He’s currently seeking reelection to the town board in
Silt’s April 1 municipal election.

Hays’ next court date is April 3. He’s free on $5,000 bond.

Contact Pete Fowler: 384-9121pfowler@postindependent.com





Post Independent, Glenwood Springs Colorado CO