DARLINGTON — A Gratiot man was sentenced May 30 in Lafayette County Circuit Court to four years on probation and one year in jail for driving under the influence of alcohol while stalking his ex-girlfriend at her rural South Wayne home.

Randall Kim Everson, 54, pleaded no contest to the fifth-offense charge of operating under the influence, a Class G felony, as well as to felony charges of stalking and bail jumping. Two additional counts of felony bail jumping were dismissed as part of a plea agreement.

According to the criminal complaint, Everson and his ex-girlfriend ended their relationship Oct. 4, and in the week after, he regularly hung around the area of her home on Tornow Road in his Chevy S10, driving the truck slowly, parking it for long periods or getting out and walking around her property.

When officers stopped Everson Oct. 10 and questioned his actions, he said he was watching her house. He said he still loved her and was afraid she was seeing someone else, as he had seen a man in the home.

Everson also admitted to having three to four beers at the Village Inn in South Wayne. His blood-alcohol level was 0.101%. Court records indicate Everson has previous OWI convictions from March 1991, June 1993, September 1997 and November 1997.

At Everson’s sentencing, District Attorney Jenna Gill recommended the joint agreement to place him on four years probation and 12 months in jail. She said Everson has no criminal history other than the OWI convictions that were over 20 years old.

But the combination of stalking and operating while intoxicated was concerning, Gill said, noting that the victim in the case is now struggling with paranoia from someone watching her and is trying to overcome anxiety.

Everson needs counseling, including treatment for alcohol or other drug abuse, she said.

“He struggles to understand that he does have some issues that he needs to overcome. He will need AODA treatment and counseling. That will be to his benefit,” Gill said.

Everson’s attorney Nathan Martin said the end of Everson’s longtime relationship destabilized him and led to his drinking and stalking, but these were isolated behaviors.

“Getting these issues addressed will get him back on the right path,” Martin said.

Judge Duane Jorgenson said what troubled him most about the case was that this was Everson’s fifth OWI offense.

“The good news is no one got hurt,” Jorgenson said, referring to the risk of drinking and driving.

Citing Everson’s issues with alcohol, Jorgenson added a stipulation to Everson’s probation that he not drink or enter bars.

“No means no. Nothing means nothing. You can’t consider any alcohol,” he told Everson.

Relative to similar cases, Jorgenson said Everson was getting a break.

“It may not feel like a break, but I have sent people to prison for two to three years for this.”