Stalking case involved sordid web

After enduring months of unsettling incidents, Thousand Oaks resident Michael Stark has finally found relief. Authorities recently convicted 10 people who were alleged to have stalked the Stark family throughout 2004.

Katie Smith, now 22, was said to be the primary instigator of numerous acts against Stark's son David and his family, according to Ventura County Dep. Allan Devers, who investigated the incidents. The case, which traumatized the Stark family, took a year and a half to be resolved, the deputy said.

Smith pleaded guilty last month in Ventura County Superior Court to felony vandalism and felony criminal threats, according to Devers. She awaits sentencing.

"There was talk about how much time she was going to do, but that's not official until she appears for sentencing," Devers said.

Among the nine others involved in the case is Sean Gittens, who allegedly made numerous death threats to Stark's family. Gittens was arrested in September on felony charges of gross vehicular manslaughter for the Oct. 17, 2005 death of Agoura Hills resident Krystin Jean Shank, 18.

Gittens is out on bail.

"All of the events started when our son David broke up with Katie Smith in December 2003," Stark said.

David Stark's vehicle was vandalized on three separate occasions, the father said.

Then the death threats started.

"We received numerous calls from unknown subjects threatening to come to our house when we were sleeping and cut my family's throats," Michael Stark said.

Four people came into Stark's backyard one night but the family's security system startled them and they fled.

Gittens pleaded guilty to participation in the events and was supposed to be sentenced to jail. At the last minute, however, the judge placed him on house arrest. About 10 days later Gittens, despite restrictions and a suspended license, drove a speeding car that got into a crash. Krystin Shank, who was a passenger in the vehicle, lost her life.

The vandalism and death threats continued for the Stark family throughout the summer of 2004. In November 2004, David Stark was waiting in the line at a Jack-in-the-Box restaurant when two males tried to assault him. He was able to flee in his car but the culprits caused $2,500 in damages as they kicked the doors and windows with their boots.

The younger Stark also began to get calls from a woman who said she wanted to meet him to give him information.

"We suspected a setup, so the sheriff's department was there and arrested the same two individuals as they jumped onto the roof and hood of my son's car and tried to inflict great bodily harm," Stark said.

Both men were sentenced to one year in county jail, according to the father. Others were also arrested in connection with the harassment.

Smith reportedly will be sentenced Nov. 17.