Stalker may stand trial on perjury charge

PHOTOGRAPHER: Lee Coleman

A Rensselaer County man already serving eight to 16 years in state prison after being convicted of stalking and criminal contempt may go on trial in January on a perjury charge.

Saratoga County District Attorney James A. Murphy III had an in-court conference Thursday with Saratoga County Court Judge Jerry J. Scarano on the case of William J. Clark Jr. of Schaghticoke, relating to a perjury indictment against Clark in which he is accused of lying before a Saratoga County grand jury.

Clark, 48, was convicted of stalking and criminal contempt after a one-week trial in January 2008 at which he represented himself. The charges stem from Clark harassing a Waterford woman at her workplace and home after she ended their relationship in late 2006.

Orders of protection had been issued at that time forbidding him from having contact with the woman.

Clark’s victim said he broke into her home and left presents and made dozens of phone calls and showed up at her workplace. Police from several agencies investigated the repeated acts of stalking by Clark.

The perjury and criminal contempt charges allege that Clark intentionally made false statements he did not believe to be true while giving sworn grand jury testimony in March 2007, Murphy said in a statement.

It is also alleged that after he was sworn as a witness before a grand jury, he refused to answer “legal and proper questions,” Murphy said.

Clark initially pleaded guilty to a criminal contempt charge in satisfaction of the perjury and criminal contempt charges in August 2008, but he later appealed his guilty plea and the conviction was reversed and a new trial ordered.

The court granted time for the defense to make a motion to dismiss the case in the interest of justice.

Murphy said Thursday he will oppose the motion to dismiss because Clark could potentially face additional state prison time, including possible persistent felony offender treatment.

“The foundation of the criminal justice system is based upon people telling the truth,” Murphy said. “When someone swears to tell the truth and doesn’t, the system simply crumbles. If someone lies, especially before a grand jury, he needs to be held responsible or he makes a mockery of the entire system.”

The jury trial has been scheduled for Jan. 13. Clark will remain in prison until the trial, Murphy said.