Ask Me Help Desk - Harassing Neighbor

Does anyone have any knowledge of new laws, etc. regarding stalking, harassment, damage to property by a certified derranged neighbor? Bought a new home less than a year ago. He thinks the right of way is his to mow, set his trash on and we own the land on both sides of the road which he enters and leaves his home via the 60' right of way. Police have been here 13 times in 90 days, every time we file a courthouse order, he lies and takes one out on us. Vicious cycle... no answers, cops can't do anything, we can't move, he is a womenizer, hates women especially brunetts like me... prior two families moved out because of him, it's cost us 7 K in 90 days with new road, pipes, survellance system, trees, fences, etc. He owns guns, swords, etc. tore up grass, busted my windshield, they arrested him... out in 1 hour! Now he's taking me... not my husband... just me to court saying I made threats to him and entered his property and I've done neither. I'm a business women in town, work for the state and can not have any hits on my background checks. Husband works at a hospital in management of Radiology and has background checks like me every 6 months. This guy could make upp anything and ruin our careers. Where is our protection before he puts a bullet in my head! He uses his guns on his property, he's been put in a mental institution more than 3 times, stands at his property line cursing me and starring me down for hours. Knocked out my escalade windshield with rocks from his mower on our property and every time he goes to jail... out in an hour!
We go to court over and over, attorneys can't do anything, and back we go again. I can not move. Any suggestions?

How is he damaging properly, have you just sued him for the money damage.

But you fight it out in court, or move,

ANY question on law needs to include your general locale as laws vary by area.

If I follow this, there is a 60' long right of way that allows him access to his property. So he wants to mow it, why is that a problem? As to the trash, where does the town require it be placed?

Other than those things, what other problems? Who has called the police and why?

I know of no 'new' laws covering any of this, which would go by state anyway, not federal.
You need to countersue for stalking and threatening in response to his case.
And then... of course you can move. It will be difficult and unaffordable, but you 'can move.'
Buy out the right of way, paying for whatever it takes to get him access to his property, or sell it to him?
Talk to gun shops owners. Maybe there is someone you can hire to sit in a lawnchair with a shotgun for 2 hours at a time, randomly.
Install a sign saying that the right of way may have nothing placed on it even temporarily, part of the definition of one.
You should realize by now that the police can't arrest him because you think he might shoot you.

You say he's been in a mental institution 3 times... then you say he owns guns.

Depending on the conditions to this, he is likely prohibited from owning a firearm. Federal law states that if you have been found mentally defective or if you have been committed to an institution, you are prohibited. There are very few exceptions to this rule so you may want to have this checked out if what you say is true.

Quote:

Originally Posted by panic stricken

Does anyone have any knowledge of new laws, etc. regarding stalking, harassment, damage to property by a certified derranged neighbor? Bought a new home less than a year ago. He thinks the right of way is his to mow, set his trash on and we own the land on both sides of the road which he enters and leaves his home via the 60' right of way. Police have been here 13 times in 90 days, everytime we file a courthouse order, he lies and takes one out on us. Vicious cycle...no answers, cops can't do anything, we can't move, he is a womenizer, hates women especially brunetts like me....prior two families moved out because of him, it's cost us 7 K in 90 days with new road, pipes, survellance system, trees, fences, etc. He owns guns, swords, etc., tore up grass, busted my windshield, they arrested him...out in 1 hour! Now he's taking me...not my husband...just me to court saying I made threats to him and entered his property and I've done neither. I'm a business women in town, work for the state and can not have any hits on my background checks. Husband works at a hospital in management of Radiology and has background checks like me every 6 months. This guy could make upp anything and ruin our careers. Where is our protection before he puts a bullet in my head! He uses his guns on his property, he's been put in a mental institution more than 3 times, stands at his property line cursing me and starring me down for hours. Knocked out my escalade windshield with rocks from his mower on our property and every time he goes to jail....out in an hour!
We go to court over and over, attorneys can't do anything, and back we go again. I can not move. Any suggestions?

I don't know where this is BUT I'm an investigator in NY. Hire someone to put video cams on your property and/or see what else he/she can do.

A stone through the windshield of your Escalade from a lawnmower and him heaving a rock are two different things. I'd be very careful what/when/where you call the Police.

My other thought that is that you are both well employed. If the choice is stay and have him shoot you or leave and take a financial hit, I'd leave.

I'm waiting for the OP to respond. So far I haven't heard anything that constitutes harassment or stalking? The only damage we've heard about is the rock from the lawn mower. I don't see any issue with mowing the right of way. And he may be putting out the trash for collection where it is supposed to be.

We don't know why the police have been called. But since he keeps getting let out, maybe its because he hasn't done anything wrong. I don't know because what we have been told is very scanty info.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ScottGem

I'm waiting for the OP to respond. So far I haven't heard anything that constitutes harassment or stalking? The only damage we've heard about is the rock from the lawn mower. I don't see any issue with mowing the right of way. And he may be putting out the trash for collection where it is supposed to be.

We don't know why the police have been called. But since he keeps getting let out, maybe its because he hasn't done anything wrong. I don't know because what we have been told is very scanty info.

Right. That's the reason for the "be careful" advice concerning the Police. Police get bored really easily.

Maybe this guy is the neighborhood oddball. That doesn't mean he's harassing anyone.

Same with the rock through the windshield - my neighbor put a rock through the side window of my summer car. His lawnmower hit it and the window was broken. I didn't call the Police. I did ask him to point the chute in the other direction when he mows.

Sometimes people start on the bad foot and if the neighbor does have/has had psychiatric problems he may just be considered to have mental issues. Not saying he does or doesn't but they could be under control and his reputation is sinking him.

Need more info -