Challenge to anti-stalking order rejected

By PHYLLIS ZORN

Staff writer

A judge last week confirmed his earlier order that Florence resident and wind farm opponent Tom Britain must stay 100 feet away from county planning and zoning chief Sharon Omstead.

Omstead requested protection from stalking after a November incident at a Florence convenience store.

County commissioners and county counsel Brad Jantz encouraged her to seek a protection order after Britain confronted her while she and her 6-year-old daughter were at a Florence convenience store.

Britain allegedly made harassing and threatening comments.

“He said he was going to ‘take care of’ me,” Omstead said at the time. “Then he said, ‘It’s not a threat. It’s going to happen. You’re going to get taken care of.’ I was in fear of my life.”

After the judge first ordered Britain to stay away from Omstead, Britain hired a lawyer to fight the order.

In May, Britain was criminally charged with violation of the order three days after he showed up at a commission meeting to hear Omstead speak to commissioners.

His next appearance in court is scheduled for July 13, when he is to be arraigned on that charge.