Slaying Sparks Calls for Tougher Stalking Laws

Born in Pittsburgh, Penn., Penny Chang was a “sweet girl” who loved computers and chess and was thinking of being a computer scientist or graphic designer when she grew up.

She never got the chance. On March 16, as she was walking to Shaker Heights High School, the 15-year-old was gunned down by an assailant at close range, one who pumped more rounds into her after she had fallen to the ground.

Penny died two hours after that. A 21-year-old man she had once dated is in custody. And though it’s too late for Penny, Ohio lawmakers have introduced beefed-up anti-stalking legislation to prevent more incidents like hers.

“She was a great girl, she smiled a lot ... a beautiful smile,” said her sister, Joann. “A lot of people have mentioned they will always remember her smile.”

After the shooting, Strothers surrendered to police and has been charged with aggravated murder. He had been obsessed with the girl and had been stalking her, said Penny’s family. They had told police months ago that Strothers had made harassing calls to their house, set the family’s garage on fire and was following their daughter, but because the incidents were classified as misdemeanors, Strothers received only probation and orders to stay away from Penny.

“People take stalking too lightly,” her sister said. “We didn’t think it would be this bad. I’ve known friends who have been stalked, but none have gone this far. This is tragic.”

Under the proposal by state Sen. Eric Fingerhut, D-Cleveland, and state Rep. Peter Lawson Jones, D-Shaker Heights, judges would have the option of treating stalking as either a misdemeanor or felony. If handled as the latter, the maximum penalty would increase from a year to 18 months, and a minimum six-month sentence would take effect.

The new stalking law could “prevent future heartaches,” said Penny’s sister Joann. She doesn’t blame the police for what happened, noting that officers responded quickly to the family’s concerns. But they “couldn’t do anything because the law didn’t allow them to do anything,” the sister said.

“Before the murder, the stalking law was very loose,” said Ray Chan, president of the Organization of Chinese Americans (OCA) of Greater Cleveland. “I’m glad they are doing something, although they can’t help the victim now.”

This week, the Toledo Blade released a report that found that 6 of 10 offenders who went through state-mandated therapy instead of to jail from 1988 to 1993 were later charged with another violent crime. In one case, a man accused of beating his girlfriend went through the program, had his record wiped clean as a result, and two years later beat her so severely that she went into a coma. He is now in prison.

The state’s Citizens Dispute Program is “setting people up for murder,” said Colleen Hartford, whose own domestic violence case against her former husband was dismissed under the scheme.

It’s unclear whether Strothers would qualify for it. The Changs hope not. “My family wants Scott to get the full sentence of the law, life with no parole,” said her sister.

The county prosecutor, she said, is personally trying the case. “They are doing a really good job,” she said.

The Changs have received strong community support from the 20,000 to 30,000 Asian Americans living in the greater Cleveland area. “They have been extremely supportive, more so than I have expected,” Joann said. “A lot of people, have called, sent condolences. Many from the community came for her memorial.”

OCA’s Chan said that the group would lobby in support of the new stalking law and monitor the case.

“We don’t have this happen very often. We don’t treat this as a racial issue ... but we strongly feel the Chinese/Asian community has to show strong community support,” Chan said. “We’re going to get group of Asian people to show up in court, to show that the community support it.”

Stalking in the Asian American community tends to be underreported, according to Carol Ito, past president of the Women’s Commission on the Status of Women in San Francisco. “Often times, people don’t take it as seriously, we don’t report ... there is usually a pattern of behavior leading up to a serious crime ... There is a lot of public education needed.”

She added, “In any family with young women and teenagers, improved family communication is important.”

Until the stalking began, Penny did not tell her family of her relationship with Strothers. “Communication, especially in an Asian family with old time conservative Chinese families and liberal girls—there is a gap,” said her sister.

“I didn’t know she had a boyfriend ... [my parents] knew about it when he stalking, but they didn’t know that a few months prior she was dating him,” JoAnn Chang said. “They did take it seriously at first, but didn’t think it would be this far.”

Chang advises to anyone in a stalking situation to, “tell a friend, or your sibling, or your best friend or your parents. Your parents are there to protect, not to hurt you.”