Convicted stalker accused of stalking his probation officer

Eichler reviews paperwork he brought to his court hearing.

Convicted stalker accused of stalking his probation officer

By Allison Scarbrough, Editor

LUDINGTON — A 48-year-old man faces charges of  aggravated stalking, using a computer to commit a crime and second-offense habitual offender for allegedly stalking a female probation agent.

Lance Craig Eichler appeared in Mason County’s 51st Circuit Court for a pretrial conference Tuesday, Oct. 17, and his attorney Ravi Gurumurthy appeared via Zoom video conferencing. 

Gurumurthy requested a bond reduction for Eichler who is currently lodged in the Mason County Jail on a $10,000 cash/surety bond.

Mason County Prosecuting Attorney Lauren Kreinbrink objected to the bond reduction, citing Eichler’s previous convictions. Eichler was sentenced earlier this year in Mason County for a conviction of attempted assault with a dangerous weapon to one year in jail with credit for 231 days served and 18 months probation.

According to Michigan Department of Corrections records, Eichler was convicted of stalking and using computers to commit a crime in Berrien County in 2019 and was ordered to three years probation. In 2008, he was convicted of assault and battery and breaking and entering/illegal entry in Kent County, receiving a one year and three month probation term. 

Kreinbrink said there are also misdemeanor stalking convictions on his criminal record.

“Hundreds of communications” from Eichler resulted in the probation officer pressing charges, said the prosecutor. 

Gurumurthy argued that his client poses no risk to the public at large and that there is a no contact order in place to protect the victim. “He didn’t physically show up at her house — he texted her on a government-issued phone,” said the defense attorney. 

Judge Susan K. Sniegowski denied modification of the bond, citing different victims Eichler has targeted in the past and stating that his bond is reasonable.

The defense attorney requested that the matter be set for a bench trial. 

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