Naperville man accused of stalking Batavia woman

A 51-year-old Naperville man is charged with stalking his ex-girlfriend and repeatedly violating an order of protection the Batavia woman had obtained against him, according to police and court records.

Joseph A. Donato, of the 1100 block of West Ogden Avenue, is charged with felony aggravated stalking, stalking, five counts of misdemeanor violation of a no contact order and violation of an order of protection, records show.

The most serious charge carries a prison term of up to five years, but probation, fines and community service also are options.

According to court records, the woman obtained an order of protection and no contact order for herself and her twin, 11-year-old daughters, on Dec. 12, 2012, saying Donato had harassed and stalked her.

Donato is accused of sending the woman texts on her cellphone, confronting her in a parking lot on the 1800 block of Orchard Crossing in North Aurora, leaving a note at her door, and following her in his car, records show. All of these actions occurred after a no-contact order was issued, records state.

Donato is charged with felony aggravated stalking under the state’s more stringent stalking laws, which increase penalties if a person drives by a victim’s home or generally causes them distress.

Batavia Police Detective Kevin Bretz said the woman and Donato dated for more than a year, but the two had been split up for several months. Bretz said the woman was not injured by Donato.

Charges were filed on March 21 and Donato was arrested outside his Naperville residence on Saturday afternoon, Bretz said.

“Once we received the warrant, detectives did a lot of legwork,” he said. “We do take these things seriously. We want to make an arrest as quickly as possible.”

As of Wednesday, Donato was being held on $100,000 at the Kane County jail and must post $10,000 to be free while his case is pending.

He is next due in court April 4.