A financial firm head from The Villages, Florida, was charged last month with felony aggravated stalking based on allegations he had cyberstalked, harassed and threatened his ex-wife, police records show.
Arthur “Skip” Eugene West, 74, was charged in late December with stalking several weeks after a Marion County sheriff’s deputy reviewed about 50 text messages regarding their divorce and eight voice messages that West is alleged to have left for the ex-wife over roughly a month, an arrest affidavit shows.
The Marion County court website describes the charge as aggravated stalking with credible threat. West, through his lawyer, entered a not guilty plea on Monday.
Messages detailed in the arrest report indicate West allegedly berated his former wife and threatened her and a “boyfriend,” telling her he had “people” watching her who were “looking for an opportunity. … Be careful, be safe. Make sure you don’t do anything stupid.”
The former wife, recently divorced per the arrest report, also told the officer that while married to West, he threatened to have her killed if he saw her with another man, the arrest affidavit states.
“The victim has left her home due to being in fear of being caught by the suspect or someone the suspect has hired to stalk or hurt her,” the officer wrote in the report.
West is president of West Financial Group, according to the firm’s website, which describes him as a philanthropist and financial advisor. The firm says it offers fixed annuities, life insurance, retirement income planning and retirement tax strategies. He is licensed to sell life and health insurance in Florida, state records show.
West is known in The Villages for holding financial seminars in which he promotes annuities, according to Villages-News.com.
Someone answering the phone at West Financial on Friday hung up when ThinkAdvisor called to seek comment. There was no response to an email sent to the firm.
The Marion County court website indicates West posted bond in December.
Credit: Marion County Sheriff's Office
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