Ludington man sentenced for repeatedly stalking estranged wife.

Hammer

Ludington man sentenced for repeatedly stalking estranged wife.

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By Allison Scarbrough, Editor.

LUDINGTON — A 34-year-old Ludington man was sentenced to serve 132 days up front of a one-year discretionary jail term with credit for 132 days served; electronic monitoring for a minimum of six months; and five years probation for conviction of aggravated stalking in 51st Circuit Court Tuesday, Jan. 18.

Nicholas Anthony Hammer, of 501 N. Washington Ave., pleaded guilty to the felony charge Nov. 30. 

Judge Susan K. Sniegowski also ordered that Hammer have no contact with his wife and that he must undergo a mental health evaluation. 

“I am just a statistic to the courts — another woman fallen victim to a narcissist,” said his wife during victim allocution. “He sits here today thinking that he is still the victim.

“He quickly violated a PPO (personal protection order). Police said there was no record of it. I started to feel like there was nothing I could do, and I was expected to endure his psychological torture.”

It was later determined that the PPO had never been filed electronically, she said. “That only added to my anguish, allowing him to torture me even longer. After the courts realized that someone’s minor paperwork discrepancy was detrimental to my life, and that they never allow this to happen to another human being.”

The victim said she sleeps with weapons and suffers from post traumatic stress disorder. 

“I sleep with my contacts in, because I’m afraid he’s going to catch me off guard when I’m blind. I wake up in the middle of the might and practice my taser. I’m afraid he’s always around the corner.

“It is clear he is mentally ill.”

“Nick, we’re over,” she said. “I do not love you. We are getting a divorce. You need to understand this. You need to stop.”

The victim appeared in person in court, while Hammer appeared via Polycom video conferencing from the Mason County Jail due to COVID-19 precautions.

There was no plea agreement offered to Hammer due to “the nature and frequency” of his stalking, said Mason County Prosecutor Lauren Kreinbrink. Hammer left notes on the victim’s front door and porch and hacked into her email accounts, Kreinbrink said. 

The judge noted the “harassing and repetitive nature” of Hammer’s actions.

Hammer has been “engaged with CMH (Community Mental Health) since he’s been in jail and has a transition plan for when he’s released,” said defense attorney Ashley Siegle. This is his first criminal conviction, said Siegle.

“He admits that he crossed boundaries and broke the law. He has never put his hands on her, although I won’t diminish the psychological effects.”

“Being without a father, that’s the most heartbreaking thing to be away from my kids,” said Hammer. “I know we’re done,” he said of their marriage.

Sentencing guidelines in the case are 0-6 months, said Judge Sniegowski. “The circumstances of this case are extremely concerning to the court. I have never seen this type of reaction where you just don’t understand. I have never seen someone that just can’t get it through their head that PPOs and bond conditions can’t be violated.”

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