Man accused of stalking ex

COEUR d’ALENE — A Washington man could spend up to five years in prison after police said he harassed his ex-girlfriend.

Walter S. Amsden, 45, of Deer Park, Wash., is charged with first-degree stalking, a felony.

A Coeur d’Alene woman contacted police in July to report that Amsden, who she said was her ex-boyfriend, had harassed her through phone calls, emails and social media since their breakup in June.

She told police she had blocked multiple phone numbers and email addresses belonging to Amsden. She had also obtained a protection order, which police said Amsden violated when he continued to contact the woman, according to court documents.

Police said Amsden distributed nude photos of the woman without her consent after the breakup and contacted her employer in an attempt to get her fired.

A judge issued a warrant for Amsden’s arrest in July. He was taken into custody on Friday.

In Idaho, first-degree stalking is punishable by a minimum of one year in jail and a maximum of five years in prison.

Judge Mayli Walsh ordered Monday that Amsden be held on $75,000 bail.