In 2009, Nikki Goeser, a former staffer for Northern Kentucky Congressman Thomas Massie, watched someone kill her husband in a Tennessee restaurant where the couple had gone to a karaoke night. The murderer had been stalking Goeser, and now she again must face the prospect of dealing with him as he’s set to be released from jail.
Hank Wise had been coming into the couples’ karaoke bar. Eventually, he started expressing his love for Goeser, and she rebuffed his offers. He kept stalking Goeser and pulled out a gun one night and shot her husband, Ben, in the head.
Wise was only convicted of second-degree murder. Now, he faces early release based on good behavior, even though he’s been writing love letters to Goeser.
But, Goeser fought back and became the first person to receive a lifetime protective order in Tennesee. Now, she’s advocating for similar legislation filed this week by Northern Kentucky Rep. Kim Banta (R-Ft. Mitchell).
“House Bill 710 would protect survivors of violent crime permanently, giving them peace of mind without having to relive the trauma by returning to the court and arguing their case every few years,” Banta said. “These are convicted, violent criminals, and for a victim to have to return to court every few years, invest their own money into the process and live in constant fear in order to give themselves the limited protection that Kentucky is able to offer them is simply unfair.”
Currently, under Kentucky law, victims of assault, attempted homicide, criminal homicide, sexual offenses, and kidnapping can only receive protective orders for up to three years, and then they must be renewed. If an order wasn’t violated, a judge might decide not to reissue it. This process can be traumatizing, Banta said.
“Kentucky consistently has the highest or second-highest rates of stalking among women, with estimates showing 1 in 4 Kentucky women will be stalked,” Goeser said. “This would help victims of the most severe cases of stalking, where extreme violence has already occurred, and the offender has been convicted. While this will be a positive step forward for victims’ rights, I encourage victims to have a backup plan for their safety. Victims should never completely rely on an order of protection.”
Under HB710, victims of these felony offenses will be able to obtain a lifetime order of protection. It will also allow current victims to petition for a retroactive protective order. The offender wouldn’t be allowed to come within a certain distance or communicate with their victim. Violators would with charged with a Class A misdemeanor with the potential to face up to 12 months in jail and/or a fine up to $500.00.
“Survivors of violent crime should have reassurance. They should not have to renew their order of protection every few years like a license plate,” Goeser said, who is now the executive director of the Crime Prevention Research Center and author of “Stalked and Defenseless.”