Stalker avoids jail term.

Austin

Stalker avoids jail term.

By Allison Scarbrough, Editor.

LUDINGTON — A 34-year-old Amber Township man pleaded guilty in 51st Circuit Court Tuesday, Nov. 23, to a felony of aggravated stalking and a misdemeanor of malicious destruction of property.

Zachary Scott Austin, of 151 Wildwood Dr., will receive a delayed sentence that orders no contact with the female victim; GPS tethering; that he must not be within 1,000 feet of the woman’s home; attend anger management counseling; and two years probation, said Mason County Prosecutor Lauren Kreinbrink. If Austin abides by the 11-month delayed sentence, his felony conviction would be reduced to misdemeanor stalking.

Austin admitted that he engaged in “repeated or continuous harassment” of the victim from a time period of July 1 to Aug. 6, 2021 despite the victim having a restraining order against him. 

He also admitted to slashing all four tires of a 2005 Ford Expedition that was parked at the victim’s house in the City of Ludington. 

Sentencing is set for Jan. 18 at 1 p.m.

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