Opinion ID: 901521
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 9

Heading: Credible Threats

Text: [¶18.] Liechti argues that the trial court erred in finding that he made credible threats to the children that placed them in reasonable fear of great bodily injury. Once again, however, the testimony of the children, the Schaefer parents, and Scheller supports the trial court's findings. The record reflects that Liechti repeatedly followed the children in his pickup while they were driving their four-wheelers. This conduct created a dangerous situation that put the children in fear of great bodily injury as was demonstrated by the Schaefer children having to take evasive maneuvers through a wheat field. More significantly, Liechti stated that he should have used a shotgun to solve his problem with the children. Although this statement was initially made to the sheriff and state's attorney, the sheriff believed the threat was credible enough to inform the Schaefers and Scheller of the comment. Furthermore, they were aware that Liechti owned firearms. Thus, Liechti's conduct as well as the Schaefers', Scheller's, and the children's knowledge of Liechti's threatening statement was sufficient to establish a legitimate concern about the children's physical safety. Therefore, we affirm the trial court's finding that Liechti made credible threats that placed the petitioners in reasonable fear of great bodily injury. [¶19.] Because Liechti's harassment amounted to a course of conduct, and because those actions were preformed maliciously and constituted credible threats, the trial court did not abuse its discretion in concluding that Liechti violated SDCL 22-19A-1(1) and (2). For the same reasons, we conclude that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in granting the protection order against stalking or personal injury.