Here’s a case that demonstrates that extreme behavior directed toward an ex-spouse will often result in a protective order.

Wargocz v. Brewer, No. 02-17-00178-CV, 2018 WL 4924755 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 2018, no pet. h.)

The general facts were in the first full month after the divorce, Husband sent approximately 900 emails to Wife’s work email address and more than 100 to her personal email address. He called her office so often that the company she worked for spoke with law enforcement to see if they could take steps to have charges pressed. Husband left one message on a colleague’s work voicemail asking the colleague to tell Wife to call him back or he would “have to take the next step.” Wife was ultimately fired from her job.  The trial court granted Wife a protective order pursuant to the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure for a five-year period. Husband appealed, challenging in part that the evidence was insufficient to support the finding that he had violated the stalking statute.

The appellate Court confirmed the ruling that Husband knowingly engaged in a course of conduct that would cause a reasonable person to feel harassed and annoyed.