Tennessee Woman Pays $16,000 to Keep Stalker Ex-Husband on Electronic Monitor
A Tennessee woman has been forced to pay over $16,000 of her own money to keep her ex-husband on a court-ordered GPS monitoring system after he repeatedly violated protection orders.
Gina Ehsani, 43, has taken on the financial burden to ensure her safety from ex-husband Pejhman, 45, who faces up to three years in prison after pleading guilty to four counts of violating an order of protection. The situation highlights a loophole in Tennessee's domestic violence legislation that can leave victims responsible for monitoring costs.
Ehsani first obtained an order of protection in June 2020, following her ex-husband's divorce filing earlier that year. Court documents indicate multiple alleged violations of this order over two years, including instances of him showing up in person, making calls, and sending repeated text messages. Pejhman's bond was recently removed following his guilty plea.
According to court documents, Pejhman was initially ordered to wear a GPS monitor four years ago. However, he later declared indigence, making him unable to afford the monitoring fees. This declaration prompted the monitoring company to prepare to remove the device.
Fearing for her safety, Ehsani stepped in and agreed to pay $330 per month for the GPS monitoring herself. She stated that this has amounted to over $16,000, forcing her to cut back on expenses for herself and her children, including foregoing vacations. The monitoring system alerts her if Pejhman comes within 1,000 feet of her, a measure she considers better than nothing.
The Debbie and Marie Domestic Violence Protection Act was intended to provide state funding for monitoring devices when defendants cannot afford them. However, amendments to the act appear to have created a situation where defendants are ineligible for assistance from the electronic monitoring indigency fund, regardless of their financial status.
Ehsani expressed frustration with the current system, suggesting that offenders can avoid monitoring by claiming indigence, leaving victims unprotected. She emphasized that even in cases without physical violence, lives remain at risk and that courts need to acknowledge this reality. Ehsani noted that her children have safety plans in place to address potential attacks or intrusions into their home.
Additionally, Ehsani reported that her ex-husband had allegedly threatened staff at a previous GPS monitoring company, leading them to refuse service. This forced her to find an alternative company for the monitoring.
