Year in jail for stalking

A Yuba City woman arrested for stalking her ex-husband called the post office also tried to have his business mail sent to her at the Sutter County Jail, an official said Monday.

Teresa Marie Betancourt, 35, was sentenced Monday in Sutter County Superior Court to a year in jail after pleading guilty to stalking Ignacio Betancourt, slashing the tires of his car and leading police on a pursuit.

Betancourt faced a maximum three years, eight months in prison but prosecutors asked for a jail sentence and probation so she can be watched closer than she would have been on parole after a prison sentence, said Sutter County Assistant District Attorney Fred Schroeder.

A postal worker recognized Betancourt’s name from newspaper accounts of her crime and notified authorities before any mail was sent to the jail, said Schroeder.

Ignacio Betancourt spoke at the sentencing and said he “just wants her to leave him alone,” said Schroeder.

Betancourt will receive credit for 99 days already served in jail and probably will be released in about six months, he said.

Betancourt slashed the tires at a house the couple shared in the 600 block of B Street. She fled in a 2006 GMC Yukon, leading police on a pursuit before pulling over and surrendering at Pelican Place and Camino del Flores.

Probation terms will include no contact with Ignacio Betancourt and no drugs, alcohol or weapons, said Schroeder.

Appeal-Democrat reporter Rob Young can be reached at 749-4710. You may e-mail him at ryoung@appealdemocrat.com.