Blind woman's stalker gets 15 months; he'll likely be deported to China after prison term

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She's a familiar figure outside Mariner games or at the Pike Place Market, strumming her guitar and singing - a blind Joan Baez of the streets.

According to King County prosecutors, it was the woman's blindness that attracted 20-year-old Zhiy-zang Chen, a community-college student from China who stalked her for more than a year, turning her life into a scene from the classic suspense movie "Wait Until Dark."

Yesterday, Superior Court Judge Ronald Kessler sentenced Chen to 15 months in prison for stalking and taking indecent liberties.

Senior Deputy Prosecutor Lisa Johnson told Kessler that Chen may be sorry but "lacks any insight into his criminal behavior." Stalking is "frightening for anyone but it is truly frightening for someone who is blind,'' she said.

The woman he stalked "is a strong woman who has overcome a lot of tragedy in her life. Yet she is still a vulnerable person," Johnson said.

The woman, who was too frightened of Chen to appear in court, became aware of him in July 1999 when she sensed someone close behind her as she walked home. Later, a man asked if he could help her cross the street. Although she declined, he followed her, talking to her, and she noted he had an Asian accent.

A short time later, someone threw stones at her. Then a man with an Asian accent came to her door asking for money for a community college. He tried to prevent her from closing the door. On other occasions she found the pots on her porch had been rearranged, and once a birdbath was placed against her door.

Later the man became more aggressive, bumping into her as she walked, grabbing her cane, standing in front of her so she walked into him and finally grabbing her breast.

A police detective later staked out the woman's route to and from work. On Sept. 21, police saw Chen following her and arrested him.

Chen's attorney, David Allen, said Chen is remorseful and admitted his guilt from the moment he was arrested. Allen said that Chen's father and other relatives live in the area and that Chen believes he has shamed them.

After serving his sentence, Chen likely will be deported, Allen said.