Lawrenceville Man Sentenced To Prison Time For Stalking Ex

LAWRENCEVILLE, GA - A Gwinnett County man was sentenced to 10 years recently for stalking his ex-girlfriend.

He has to serve at least three of those, according to the Gwinnett Daily Post. There is a permanent restraining order against him.

William Lee Smith, 42, was convicted of aggravated stalking, accused of showing up in his ex-girlfriend's neighborhood and at her workplace.

"The victim testified about significant lifestyle changes that the defendant had caused," prosecutors told the Gwinnett Daily Post.

"She would always back into parking spaces in case she need to leave quickly, she had surveillance cameras installed, she felt like she was always looking over her shoulder and was always on the lookout in public."

Prosecutors had three other ex-girlfriends also testify against Smith, developing a disturbing pattern..

"Each one testified to similar experiences with the defendant," prosecutors said

They all had to obtain restraining orders at the end of their relationships with Smith.

"One of the more concerning prior incidents involved the defendant hiding the woods behind one of his ex-girlfriend’s house and coming up and starting an argument, Prosecutors told the Gwinnett Daily Post, "when he heard his ex-girlfriend talking to another person about him."

Officials at the Gwinnett District Attorney's Office said Smith and his most current ex-girlfriend were were in a relationship from January until July of 2016.

That is when he began following her and showing up in her neighborhood and at her workplace, according to prosecutors.