Olathe family continues fight to change Kansas stalking statute

Daughter allegedly targeted by elementary teacher

A FORMER OLATHESCHOOL TEACHER ISFACING A CHARGE OFRECKLESS STALKING FORTAKING MORE THAN TWO-HUNDRED PICTURES AND31 VIDEOS OF HIS FOURTHGRADE STUDENT...MOSTLY FOCUSED ON HERBACKSIDE.TODAY..

THAT STUDENTAND HER MOTHERTESTIFIED VIRTUALLYBEFORE THE KANSASJUDICIARY COMMITTEETRYING TO STRENGTHENSTALKING LAWS IN THESTATE.Daughter:"I feel like no other kidsshould have to go through asituation like this.NOW 11 YEARS OLD..

THESITUATION SHE'SREFERRING TO INVOLVESHER 4TH GRADETEACHER... JAMESLOGANBILL.Daughter:"it's just hard to think aboutso I don't like to think aboutitsometimes I go to bed and I'mjust like oh what it would'vebeen like if I didn't go to thatschool or all that stuff."Kristyn Antonnuci, Mom:"In my mind, he would havebeen arrested right there onthe spot.

We were in uttershock to know that a grownman in his 50s with children ofhis own would walk free thatday after admitting that heviewed a child as sexuallyattractive."HIS CASE IS CURRENTLYPENDING IN JOHNSONCOUNTY.BUT..

BECAUSE OF THEWAY THE STALKINGSTATUTE IS WRITTEN... HISATTORNEY TRIED BACK INNOVEMBER TO HAVE THECASE DISMISSED...CLAIMING IT COULDN'T BESTALKING BECAUSE THEGIRL WAS UNAWARE OFTHE BEHAVIOR AT THETIME.THAT'S ONE ASPECT OFTHE LAW THE FAMILYHOPES TO CHANGE.Mom: So the change would be wewould tighten up the wordingto make it very very clear thatyou do not have to be awareof stalked during the timeyou're being stalked.ULTIMATELY, A JUDGEDENIED THE DEFENSE'SMOTION TO DISMISS,ALLOWING THE CASE TOMOVE FORWARD.BUT..

EVEN IF LOGANBILLIS CONVICTED..

STALKINGA MINOR IN KANSAS IS AMISDEMEANOR..

WITH AMAXIMUM PUNISHMENT OFA YEAR BEHIND BARS.THE CHANGES THE FAMILYIS PROPOSING WOULDMAKE IT A FELONY TOSTALK CHILDREN UNDER16, WITH A SENTENCE OF 7to 10 YEARS.Mom:"We really think that that'ssome thing that's needed tosend a clear message in ourstate that that type of behaviorisn't allowed it's notacceptable and if you doengage in that type ofbehavior you will be punishedappropriately."AND, ALTHOUGH IT MEANSRECALLING WHAT THEYDESCRIBE AS A PAINFULPERIOD IN THEIR LIVES,THE FAMILY, FEELS THEYHAVE TO SPEAK UP..

JUSTAS THEIR DAUGHTER'SCLASSMATES SPOKE UPWHEN THEY WERE FIRSTTO REPORT LOGANBILL'SALLEGED BEHAVIOR.DAUGHTER:"I said that my class wasthere for me so I just wannabe there for other kids andhelp them through it."LOGANBILL RESIGNEDFROM MEADOW LANEELEMENTARY SCHOOLLAST YEAR.AS FOR THE FAMILY'SBILL..

THEY SAY THEY'VERECEIVED TREMENDOUSBIPARTISAN SUPPORT...AND THEY'RE OPTIMISTICIT WILL EVENTUAL