Mato Grosso Law Professor Sentenced for Stalking Ex-Partner

Saulo Tarso Rodrigues, a law professor at the Federal University of Mato Grosso (UFMT), has been sentenced to 10 months and 15 days in prison for stalking his ex-partner. The conviction, handed down by the Court of Justice of Mato Grosso (TJMT) and published on Tuesday, February 21st, addresses a case of domestic and gender-based violence. The decision was made by Judge Valter Fabrício Simioni da Silva of the 1st Specialized Court for Domestic and Family Violence Against Women in Cuiabá, and the ruling is subject to appeal. The case stems from persistent and intimidating emails sent by Rodrigues to the victim between September and October 2022, demanding in-person meetings. According to the court's decision, Rodrigues also made statements that caused the victim fear and emotional distress, including mentioning knowledge of her work schedule and allegedly threatening to involve a criminal faction. The victim also reported previous death threats and documented incidents involving firearms and mentions of suicide. Rodrigues claims he was denied a proper defense during the proceedings, alleging he was unaware of the instruction hearing and was assigned an ad hoc lawyer without his consent. He states he is currently pursuing an appeal at the Superior Court of Justice (STJ) to annul the decision, asserting that the messages were intended for discussions about their children and that he lacked the opportunity to present evidence. The court rejected these arguments, characterizing his conduct as "daily, insistent, and invasive," thus constituting the crime of stalking. In addition to the prison sentence, the court ordered the penalty to be initially served under an open regime, a two-year conditional suspension of the sentence, a minimum compensation of R$3,000 for moral damages, the temporary loss of political rights, and payment of court costs after appeals are exhausted. Rodrigues retains the right to appeal while remaining free.