Accused stalker from Oklahoma pleads not guilty

A Norman, Oklahoma, man is facing stalking charges after following a victim to Montana.

Larry Dean Anthony, 45, pleaded not guilty to felony stalking and misdemeanor stalking in Flathead County District Court Thursday.

Anthony harassed a victim by mail, text messages and email between June 3 and June 26, according to court documents.

On June 2 the victim contacted the Flathead County Sheriff’s Office to report a suspicious envelope that wasn’t postmarked and believed to be hand-delivered to the victim’s Columbia Falls residence. The letter was threatening in nature to the victim and her mother, stating “In God’s name I curse you ...,” naming the victim and “In God’s name I curse you ...” naming the victim’s mother, followed by “May you never know another day without the pain of losing those you care most about.”

The letter was unsigned, but the victim believed it was written by Anthony, whom the victim had met while living in Oklahoma. The victim reported to officers that she briefly lived with Anthony, but did not have a romantic relationship with him. The victim said Anthony “became infatuated with her,” and “harassed her to the point she recently moved to Montana.” In the court documents the victim alleged that Anthony learned that she had moved to Montana and he also moved here, continuing to call her and send text messages. The victim showed a deputy a particularly concerning text message received from Anthony on May 31 that read, “I am going to make you shoot me!!!!” because Anthony knew where both women lived.

Scared and distressed by the messages, the victim received a temporary order of protection against Anthony on June 9, according to court documents.

On June 26 officers received another report from the victim, who told a deputy she and several family members were driving west on Montana 35 in Evergreen when she saw Anthony driving in the opposite direction, turn around and follow them. When the vehicles stopped at a red light at the intersection of Montana 35 and U.S. 2, Anthony reportedly got out of his pickup and walked toward them. In response to the situation, the victim said “they floored it to get away” and saw Anthony turn around near the intersection of U.S. 2 and Reserve Drive, leaving them alone.

Since the initial June 2 report, the victim showed additional text messages and allegedly witnessed Anthony driving by her mother’s house twice daily.

Deputies located Anthony on June 27, and he allegedly admitted to multiple attempts to contact the victim through calls and text messages, driving by her mother’s house numerous times, sending the envelope and following the victim down U.S. 2 on June 26.

If convicted of felony stalking, Anthony faces a maximum 5-year sentence in Montana State Prison and a fine up to $10,000. For the misdemeanor stalking charge, Anthony could get one year in the county jail and a maximum fine of $1,000. It was noted in court documents for sentencing purposes that if Anthony is convicted of both counts, the second may be treated as a felony.

Anthony is being held on $50,000 bail at Flathead County Detention Center. Taken into consideration for setting a bond was Anthony’s previous conviction of felony manslaughter in Lexington, Oklahoma, in 1998.

Anthony is not believed to have any prior stalking convictions.

Hilary Matheson is a reporter for The Daily Inter Lake. She may be reached at 758-4431 or hmatheson@dailyinterlake.com.