Man receives more than a year in jail for stalking wife

34-year-old Castaic resident also pleaded no contest to two felony counts of criminal threats

A Castaic man initially accused of making criminal threats against his estranged wife, who works for Castaic Elementary School, was sentenced Friday to more than a year in jail after pleading no contest to one felony count of stalking.

Michael Petett, 34, who was charged in February with one felony count of stalking and two felony counts of criminal threat, appeared in San Fernando Superior Court where he entered his plea.

“He pleaded no contest to one felony count of stalking and was sentenced to 389 days in jail and five years of formal probation,” said Ricardo Santiago, spokesman for the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.

Deputies with the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station arrested Petett on Feb. 10, after they received information about criminal threats made against an employee, a female adult, at the Castaic Union School District, by her estranged spouse, Shirley Miller spokeswoman for the SCV Sheriff’s Station said at the time of the arrest.

“The threats were left on the victim’s voicemail at her work location,” she said.

“Deputies acted quickly, and were able to locate and arrest the suspect approximately one hour after the initial report was made,” Miller said.

“Santa Clarita Valley Station detectives have been working diligently since the date of the incident to gather evidence and interview witnesses,” she said.

Reports of a threat prompted the Castaic Union School District to add extra security personnel on the elementary school’s campus.

The threat was made to the employee over the weekend when the employee’s spouse left her a voice message threatening to harm both her and others at Castaic Elementary School.