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Dad says stalker’s punishment ‘sucks’

Posted at 10:25 PM, Aug 26, 2013
and last updated 2013-08-26 22:26:15-04

RICHMOND, Va. (WTVR) - The 52-year-old Chesterfield man convicted of stalking a 10-year-old east Richmond girl will serve no jail time.

Shahriar Bakhtiarizadeh entered an Alford plea, meaning he did not admit guilt, but did acknowledge there was enough evidence to convict him.

As part of the plea deal, the judge suspended Bakhtiarizadeh's nearly six-month jail sentence - meaning he will serve no jail time as long as he stays out of trouble.

The judge's decision angered the child's father.

"You can get more time for stealing hubcaps," Anthony Monroe said. "Does my child's life have no value? I think the decision sucked."

Police said Bakhtiarizadeh approached the 10-year-old girl while she was walking to the the Powhatan Community pool on Apperson Street in Richmond last month.

“He was crouched down under the table looking around. He was acting really weird,” witness Timothy Gibson said after the arrest.

Police said Bakhtiarizadeh tried several times to get the girl into his minivan.