Lake in the Hills man charged with stalking

A Lake in the Hills man, in custody since December on charges he violated an order of protection, faces new charges of aggravated stalking.

Bryant Smith, 47, of the 0-100 block of Woodland Road, was ordered held on $200,000 bond Thursday by Cook County Judge Jill Cerone Marisie after Cook County prosecutors described several incidents in which they say Smith stalked or harassed a woman with whom he previously had a relationship.

Last year, the woman obtained an order of protection against Smith which expires in May 2014, said Cook County Assistant State's Attorney Maria McCarthy. That order prohibits him from harassing the woman and from entering the business where she works while she is present.

At about 7:30 a.m. Dec. 14, about an hour after she arrived at work, the woman discovered a 1-inch slash to her tire and scratches on her car consistent with it having been keyed, McCarthy said.

Although surveillance videotape of the parking lot did not show the woman's car, it did show a vehicle the woman identified as belonging to Smith driving to where she had parked her car, McCarthy said. The defendant later admitted he damaged the woman's car while acknowledging the order of protection prohibited him from going to her work, McCarthy said.

Two months earlier, on Oct. 12, 2012, Smith was found guilty of violating an order of protection against the same woman and resisting arrest and was sentenced to 120 days in jail. Authorities say he placed numerous phone calls to the woman during which he made threatening statements, McCarthy said.

Smith's background also includes convictions for possession of a stolen motor vehicle, residential burglary, possession of a controlled substance and attempted burglary dating back to 1982, authorities said.

Last September, authorities say Smith used the woman's name to order 18 pizzas from four different restaurants. In January 2013, police traced the IP address from one of the orders to a computer registered to the defendant at his Lake in the Hills address, McCarthy said. That information led to the aggravated stalking charges, she said.

If convicted of the class 3 felony, Smith could face up to five years in prison and probation is an option. However, Smith's background could make him eligible for a sentence of up to 10 years.

Smith next appears in court on March 21.