Fort Worth Star Telegram Logo

Former state trooper gets probation in stalking of ex-wife | Fort Worth Star-Telegram

×
  • E-edition
    • Customer Service
    • Mobile & Apps
    • Newsletters

    • Local
    • Fort Worth
    • Arlington
    • Northeast Tarrant
    • Texas
    • Crime & Courts
    • Politics
    • Elections
    • Bud Kennedy
    • Databases
    • Nation and World
    • Cowboys
    • Rangers
    • TCU
    • Mac Engel
    • Colleges
    • Mavericks
    • Motorsports
    • Stars
    • High School Sports
    • Scores & Schedules
    • All Sports
    • Football
    • Baseball
    • Softball
    • Volleyball
    • Boys Basketball
    • Girls Basketball
    • Editorials
    • Letters
    • Submit a letter
    • Cheers and Jeers
    • Submit a Cheer or Jeer
    • Bud Kennedy
    • Michael Ryan
    • Cynthia M. Allen
    • Other Voices
    • Business
    • Growth
    • Restaurants
    • Arts & Culture
    • Movies
    • Things To Do
    • Music
    • Nightlife
    • Party Pics
    • Horoscopes
    • Comics
    • Contests
    • Puzzles and Games
    • Food & Drink
    • Arts
    • Health & Fitness
    • Indulge
    • The Keller Magazine
    • Neil Sperry
    • Social Eyes
    • Dear Abby
    • Weddings
    • Arlington Citizen-Journal
    • Keller Citizen
    • Star-Telegram Northeast
    • Mansfield News-Mirror
    • Weatherford Star-Telegram
    • La Estrella
    • Locales
    • Noticias
    • Deportes
    • Entretenimiento
    • Contáctenos
    • Media Kit
    • Today's Obituaries
    • Obituaries in the News
    • Submit an Obituary

    • All Weddings
    • Announcements
    • Bridal Show
    • Contact Us
    • Inspiration
    • News & Advice
    • Vendors
    • Hispanic Heritage
    • Cancer Awareness
    • Healthy Lifestyle
    • Dining, Entertaining
    • Breast Cancer Awareness
    • Think Green
    • Money Matters
    • All About Pets
    • Careers and Business
    • Health and Wellness
    • How To...
    • Women Today
    • Family and Parenting
    • Easy Living Tips
    • Lawn and Garden
    • Giving Back
    • Men Today
    • On the Road 1
    • On the Road 2
  • Public Notices
  • Local Deals
  • Cars
  • Jobs
  • Moonlighting
  • Homes
  • Classifieds
  • Mobile & Apps

Moms

Mom2MomDFW.com

Former state trooper gets probation in stalking of ex-wife

By Dianna Hunt - dhunt@star-telegram.com

    ORDER REPRINT →

August 30, 2012 11:02 PM

FORT WORTH -- She tried to ignore the hateful texts and e-mails, thinking they'd blow over. She began to get frantic when slut and other insults were spray-painted on her home and vehicles and threatening phone calls were made to her family.

But she finally got scared, really scared, when strange men began showing up at her home at night, believing she'd invited them to have sex through an adult website.

"There was no safety left," Lawana Siney told the Star-Telegram Thursday. "I didn't sleep for months."

The three-year nightmare ended this week when Siney's ex-husband, Kevin Safford, 41, of Fort Worth, was convicted of stalking and impersonating her online. A jury in state District Judge Sharen Wilson's court convicted the former state trooper on all three counts against him and on Thursday sentenced him to four years' probation and a $5,000 fine.

Sign Up and Save

Get six months of free digital access to the Star-Telegram

SUBSCRIBE WITH GOOGLE

#ReadLocal

Siney stood in court to face him Thursday after the sentencing.

"You took complete advantage of my trust," she told Safford, who sat quietly, looking at her. "So now we are in a courtroom and you're a convicted felon. I really hope now that you realize you are not above the law."

Siney said that the conviction was a long time coming. In the interview, she said Saginaw police initially didn't take her complaints seriously, and apparently didn't want to believe that a former law enforcement officer would launch a hate campaign against a former spouse.

"When the men showed up at my house is when I made sure they knew this was serious and that I wasn't just a disgruntled ex-wife making this up," she said.

The first man arrived on Oct. 26, 2009, eager for a wild date. She told him he had the wrong address, and he left, disappointed.

In a day or two, another showed up, believing he'd been chatting with her online and that she'd invited him to her home. Just walk right in, he'd been told, and go straight back to the bedroom.

He had the sense, at least, to knock, but it took a while for him to understand that he'd been duped.

"But I spoke to you. You look just like the girl in the picture," he protested, when Siney tried to explain she had nothing to do with the online profile with her name and picture on the adult dating website.

After that, she didn't answer the door. She just called police and kept the men there until officers could arrive to question them.

"It took just a very, very short time for me to realize that I was the target of something," she told the Star-Telegram.

The website profile was a racy come-on, a plea for sex partners to arrive in the night, after the kids were asleep.

"I just want to get laid," it began. "I don't get it often because of my kids...I'll let you know if I want you, but you better be kinky."

It featured a smiling picture of Siney, a medical secretary, that had been taken at work, a photo she had e-mailed to Safford and no one else.

In all, about 15 men showed up at her doorstep. Many more called her at work, hoping to arrange a rendezvous. One even showed up with a six-pack of Miller Lite, her favorite brand of beer.

It took two years before Safford was indicted and another year before he went to trial.

"It was very long and drawn out," she said.

Over the months, her vehicles and home were vandalized with orange paint. Once, all her patio furniture was moved to the street with the garbage, but a police officer noticed and stopped to ask about it.

The same officer almost caught an intruder near her vehicle one night, but he ran before the officer could get to him. The man, the officer said, looked like Safford, but he couldn't be certain.

Prosecutors Steven Gebhardt and Andrea Townsend had asked the jury to consider the maximum 10-year sentence if they were considering probation for Safford. They urged jurors to send a message to the community and set the bar high in case Safford failed to meet the terms of his probation.

"The level of violence on the part of the defendant was escalating beyond simple harassment," Gebhardt said afterward, in a written statement. "The jury sent the message that this type of behavior simply will not be tolerated in Tarrant County."

Defense attorneys Harold Johnson and Liz Cortright, however, had urged jurors to consider probation, noting that Safford had no prior convictions.

Safford's father, Larry Safford Sr., and his teen-age daughter testified tearfully on Safford's behalf during the punishment phase.

The elder Safford told jurors that his son has worked tirelessly to help his parents as their health has declined. He and his wife have been married 43 years, he said, and he worked hard to create the strong family that he never had as a child.

"I wanted a Leave it to Beaver family because I didn't have it," he said tearfully.

He said Kevin dropped out of college to enlist in the Marines because he was worried about the cost. He said Kevin was discharged early -- and honorably --after his father, recovering from a heart attack, had a stroke.

He came home to help, Larry Safford said.

"We called him Kevin from Heaven because he was a gift to us from God," Larry Safford Sr. said. "He's a good person."

Larry Safford told jurors that his son was in an elite unite of the Marines and received an honorable discharge. He then began working in law enforcement, first as a jailer for the Tarrant County Sheriff's Department and then as a police officer at Lake Worth. He left Lake Worth to become a state trooper, and worked there five years. He eventually was asked to resign from the DPS in the midst of allegations he had falsified traffic tickets, and voluntarily gave up his peace officer's certificate, officials said.

He now owns a construction business.

Safford has had custody of two children since he and his first wife divorced years ago. The oldest child recently graduated from high school and the youngest, a girl, is now 13.

His daughter told jurors it was important that she be able to stay with her dad.

"He gives me a better life than my mom could," she testified.

Saginaw police Detective Robert Richardson also urged jurors to consider probation. He said he and Kevin Safford have been friends since they were patrol officers together in Lake Worth. He said he doesn't excuse Safford's behavior, but believes he can contribute to society going forward.

In court, Siney told Kevin Safford that he believed he was above the law, that he could get away with things that others could not because of his law enforcement background.

She told him that he owed an apology to her family -- her mother and her aunt, who received threatening phone calls, and her two teenage sons.

And she told him he also owed an apology to his own family for the turmoil he had caused.

"As for me," she said. "I don't want an apology. I want nothing from you. Nothing."

She later said she accepted the probationary sentence, and didn't know if Safford would be able to complete the terms set out by the court. "I don't know," she said. "Some people learn; some people don't."

Dianna Hunt, 817-390-7084

Twitter: @DiannaHunt

Related stories from Fort Worth Star Telegram

moms

Saginaw woman testifies about stalker's 'terrifying' campaign

August 28, 2012 11:30 PM

  Comments  

Videos

After two failed pregnancies, a Fort Worth couple delivers triplets

Ramen round-up: Where to find the Japanese noodle dish in Fort Worth

View More Video

Trending Stories

Video shows alligator killing dog in Trinity River; authorities investigate

February 15, 2019 04:53 PM

A 14-year-old Fort Worth girl was sentenced to 25 years for killing her best friend

February 15, 2019 05:05 PM

Woman dies after falling out of truck bed and hit by multiple vehicles on I-35W

February 15, 2019 08:07 AM

1 dead, 1 injured in shooting outside of Fort Worth Dairy Queen, police say

February 16, 2019 06:57 PM

Andrus arrives to Rangers camp with Beltre update. Is he regretting decision to retire?

February 16, 2019 12:47 PM

Read Next

Mom shares story of 'miracle' at nation's first More Than Pink Walk – in Fort Worth
Video media Created with Sketch.

Fort Worth

Mom shares story of 'miracle' at nation's first More Than Pink Walk – in Fort Worth

By Nick Tarrant

    ORDER REPRINT →

April 28, 2018 01:24 PM

Roxanne Martinez, Fort Worth resident and six-year breast cancer survivor shared her story and raised funds for the More Than Pink Walk, hosted by the Susan G. Komen Greater Fort Worth, on Saturday.

KEEP READING

Sign Up and Save

#ReadLocal

Get six months of free digital access to the Star-Telegram

SUBSCRIBE WITH GOOGLE

MORE MOMS

Planning a party for a teen? Avoid the angst with these DFW options

Mari's Moments

Planning a party for a teen? Avoid the angst with these DFW options

March 23, 2018 09:31 AM
Have doubts about McDonald's 'healthy' Happy Meals? Try these DFW dining options for kids

Mari's Moments

Have doubts about McDonald's 'healthy' Happy Meals? Try these DFW dining options for kids

March 19, 2018 11:28 AM
WalletHub isn't all that impressed with how Texas values women

Texas

WalletHub isn't all that impressed with how Texas values women

March 06, 2018 03:47 PM
Seven sets of triplets help make 2018 a year for 'multiples' at Fort Worth hospital

Fort Worth

Seven sets of triplets help make 2018 a year for 'multiples' at Fort Worth hospital

February 28, 2018 03:00 PM
Theatre Arlington's 'Shrek Jr.' makes you a believer

Mari's Moments

Theatre Arlington's 'Shrek Jr.' makes you a believer

February 27, 2018 04:56 PM
Here's what parents need to know about 'Black Panther'

Mari's Moments

Here's what parents need to know about 'Black Panther'

February 15, 2018 11:41 AM
Take Us With You

Real-time updates and all local stories you want right in the palm of your hand.

Subscriptions
  • Start a Subscription
  • Customer Service
  • eEdition
  • Vacation Hold
  • Pay Your Bill
  • Rewards
Learn More
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Newsletters
  • News in Education
Advertising
  • Information
  • Place a Classified
Copyright
Commenting Policy
Privacy Policy
Terms of Service


Back to Story