Probation, GPS for man who stalked Batavia woman
A Naperville man who pleaded guilty to stalking a Batavia woman was sentenced to 30 months of both probation and GPS monitoring and ordered to undergo a psychological evaluation and follow its recommendations.
Joseph A. Donato, 52, of the 1100 block of West Ogden Avenue, pleaded guilty to felony aggravated stalking Friday and was released from the Kane County jail after spending 288 days there, according to prosecutors and the sheriff’s office.
He was arrested in March and held without bond after Kane County Judge Thomas Stanfa determined Donato was still an immediate danger to the victim, a former girlfriend, and her twin 11-year-old daughters.
According to Kane County court records, Donato was charged with aggravated stalking after he placed a GPS device on the woman’s car, confronted her in a North Aurora parking lot, and left letters at the woman’s home and followed her in his car after she obtained an order of protection in December.
In previous court hearings, prosecutors said the GPS device would send a message to Donato’s cellphone and computer whenever the woman came or left home. Donato would then send her a blank text message as a way of letting her know he was keeping track of her.
If Donato violates his probation, he could be resentenced to up to five years in prison.
As part of the plea agreement, which was accepted by Stanfa, an order of protection obtained by the woman against Donato was extended to April 2018, which is two years after Donato’s probation expires, according to court records.
If Donato remains in counseling and has no violations, he can have a year subtracted from the 30 months that he is required to have GPS monitoring.
The GPS monitoring will not keep him confined to his home, but has numerous exclusion zones, such as the victim’s house and work.
Teresa McAdams, who court records list as Donato’s third defense attorney after he fired the previous two, did not return phone messages Monday.