ANCHORAGE, ALASKA (AP) - A court magistrate on Monday will consider a request from Sarah Palin to continue a restraining order against a 19-year-old Pennsylvania man who the former Alaska governor says has been stalking her for more than two years.
A magistrate in Anchorage will consider extending the protective order against Shawn Christy of McAdoo by another six months.
Palin’s father, Chuck Heath, and her friend Kristan Cole also have requested restraining orders against Christy. And all three have requested restraining orders against Christy’s parents, Craig and Karen Christy.
Craig Christy is accused of leaving multiple harassing telephone messages for Palin’s parents and contacting Cole’s children on Facebook. Magistrate Jonathon Lack denied Cole’s request for a protective order against Karen Christy last month.
Palin, the 2008 Republican vice presidential nominee, and Cole obtained original restraining orders against Shawn Christy last year, saying he threatened them, sent a receipt for a gun purchase and said he was buying a one-way ticket to Alaska.
Shawn Christy flew to Alaska on Palin’s birthday this year, in February, and the visit was monitored by authorities. He spent just one day in Anchorage _ about 40 miles from Wasilla, Palin’s hometown _ before returning to McAdoo.
Temporary restraining orders were issued against the Christys last month, and Monday’s court date will deal with the long-term orders.
The Christys, who do not have an attorney, say Alaska has no jurisdiction over them because they are from another state. Palin’s attorney, John Tiemessen, said the Christys are misreading the law.
Shawn Christy has said a few dozen emails he sent to Palin’s state office _ including a threat _ were “stupid pranks” to get attention. He said his life is difficult because he deals with complications from Lyme disease.
He also acknowledged sending threatening messages in 2009 to President Barrack Obama, and to Republican Sen. John McCain, who chose Palin as his running mate in the presidential race the previous year.
Christy said someone purporting to be a 15-year-old girl started texting him after he began sending these messages. He said he thought the texter was either law enforcement or Palin. His parents believe it was Palin, which set off the numerous phone calls to Palin’s parents, according to court documents.
Christy was apprehended by authorities in Washington, D.C., two years ago. At the request of the Secret Service, he underwent a psychiatric evaluation, which concluded Christy had a sense of grandiosity that “could turn somewhat paranoid,” according to court papers.
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