Powell man pleaded not guilty to stalking charges

Erik L. Jensen, 35, was initially charged with four counts — two counts of stalking and two counts of violating a protection order.

But, he pleaded not guilty to three counts, after Park County Circuit Court dismissed one count of stalking, due to the lack of probable cause, according to the felony information document.

Jensen is alleged to have committed these offenses on Jan. 22, after there were reports that someone had manually flipped the breaker to the electrical box at the K-Bar Saloon in Powell, the affidavit said.

Powell Police were dispatched to the bar because the owner believed it was a deliberate act, the affidavit said.

But, the police were given no description of the suspect at that time, so the officers added the bar to their extra patrol list and further canvassed the area, the affidavit said.

A few hours later on Jan. 22, the officers were dispatched to the bar for a second time after receiving reports that the power had been turned off again.

During the second power outage, the bartender saw the suspect who, according to the affidavit, fled north, down the alley on foot.

She told the police she knew who the suspect was, identifying him as Jensen, with whom she had been in a past relationship, the affidavit said.

She further informed the police that she had seen Jensen crouching behind the dumpster at the bar the day before, the affidavit said.

At the time of the two incidents, the bartender had an active protection order against Jensen.

According to the affidavit,  Jensen had threatened suicide while in a relationship with the bartender and had also attempted to get her arrested for possession of a controlled substance after she had moved out of the home they shared.

Once apprehended outside of his home later that night, Jensen was questioned by police about the incident at the bar, and he subsequently confessed to flipping the breaker, the affidavit said.

“Jensen stated that he wanted to irritate [his ex-girlfriend],” the affidavit said. “[And] Jensen confessed to having intent to harass ... by showing up at her work place.”

Jensen now faces a jury trial Aug. 7.