Schuylerville man gets time served, probation in plane stalking case; Victim files lawsuit

The Schuylerville man who admitted to using a plane to stalk a woman was sentenced on Monday to time served and 5 years of probation.

Michael Arnold now also faces a civil lawsuit by his victim. Arnold admitted he flew his single-engine plane over a woman’s home multiple times in Schuylerville.

Arnold has been arrested five times in the last year for different charges, including allegations that he sent Facebook messages to that same woman who had a restraining order against him.

Arnold was sentenced in Saratoga County Court to 6 months in jail, which he already has served. The judge put an order of protection in place prohibiting Arnold from contacting the victim.

The victim, who NewsChannel 13 is not identifying, filed a lawsuit on Aug. 22 in state Supreme Court of Saratoga County.

Her attorney, Thomas Mortati of Harding Mazzotti, wrote in the brief that Arnold’s conduct dates back to 2019 and was “so outrageous in character, and so extreme in degree, as to go beyond all possible bounds of decency, and could be regarded as atrocious and utterly intolerable in a civilized community.”

Arnold’s alleged conduct also included sending her letters and packages, contacting her via social media and showing up at her work and home.

The lawsuit seeks monetary damages for her emotional distress and fear for her safety.

The Times Union first reported the lawsuit.