Opinion ID: 1630402
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: t.w.

Text: T.W., an attorney in the Scotts Bluff County Attorney's office, dated Ybarra from September 2001 until October 2004. In November 2004, she requested a protection order against him. T.W. said that after she attempted to end the relationship, Ybarra's behavior escalated from emotional abuse and manipulation to stalking. She alleged that his behavior had become increasingly abusive, harassing, and inappropriate at both her home and her office and that she had serious concerns for her physical safety. In T.W.'s affidavit in support of the protection order, she alleged that she had learned that Ybarra had been unfaithful and had been dating another woman for 6 months. T.W. decided she no longer wanted to speak to Ybarra. Ybarra called T.W.'s home and office telephones incessantly and left messages with office assistants. At one time, Ybarra called T.W.'s office and said that he had an emergency and that T.W. needed to contact him immediately. She did not return the telephone call. T.W. felt it necessary to leave the courthouse or arrange to work outside the office when Ybarra said he was coming to see her there. When T.W. returned to her private office, she found notes from him, including one that said, I love you! [T.W.] T.W. said she was forced to have security escorts from her office to her car. After Ybarra sent T.W. an e-mail stating that the relationship was over, Ybarra continued to call her home at all hours of the day and night. The protection order was granted for 1 year. After it was issued, Ybarra came to T.W.'s office, claiming he needed to discuss child support matters. She was forced to remain in her office while security personnel ensured he had left the building. In a letter to the Commission, T.W. stated that Ybarra had a history of abuse, manipulation, violence and predatory behavior that is a serious risk for any vulnerable person, especially any female, who may come into contact with him.... There is no regret, no remorse and absolutely no change in his personal character or behavior. The victim and witness assistance director for the Scotts Bluff County Attorney's office wrote to the Commission to oppose Ybarra's admission to the bar. The director stated he had assisted three women who were granted domestic abuse protection orders against Ybarra. The director said one of the most disturbing experiences was when Ybarra violated a protection order by making excuses to be in the building where T.W. worked. The director said Ybarra had no regard for the law and felt he was above it. Ybarra stated that he dated T.W. for 3 years and that the relationship began to deteriorate when he moved to Chadron to attend college. He began a new relationship after he had not heard from T.W. for a time. Ybarra claimed T.W. called him at 1 or 2 a.m. and said she was in Chadron and wanted to see him. He went to her hotel room, where they talked for about an hour. Initially, she would not let him leave. The next day, they had breakfast and eventually had sexual relations. When Ybarra's new girlfriend, A.S., came to the room, T.W. became upset and left. Ybarra claimed T.W. continuously called him at home and at work. Ybarra said he tried to avoid her calls but eventually agreed to meet her at a city park. When they met, T.W. was crying and upset about Ybarra's seeing another woman. Ybarra claimed that T.W. said she was going to drive her car off the road and that she began stabbing her wrist with a sharp object on her keyring. When he grabbed her to try to stop her, she pulled away and ran. Ybarra apologized and told T.W. he still loved her. They agreed to meet several weeks later, but at that time, T.W. refused to speak to Ybarra. T.W. was then granted the protection order.