Victim of Barnes & Noble ‘snoop’ blasts repeated catch and release
After another arrest of Barnes & Noble “snoop” and professional sex predator Calese Crowder, one of his victims demands that Los Angeles authorities take the perverted drifter more seriously.
“I’m relieved that he was arrested again, but unfortunately I don’t have high expectations that he’ll be held there for long,” said Michaela Witter, one of at least two women who caught Crowder on video behind him they stalked Burbank Bookstore.
She was right. He got out of jail Friday after Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascon’s office told Fox News Digital they didn’t have enough evidence to prosecute his latest crime together – failing to register as a sex offender.
After Witter posted about their encounter on TikTok, the video went viral and she said at least 20 other women reached out to her with similar stories.
“I’ve spoken to others who have been affected by Calese Crowder, who have PTSD because of him and don’t feel safe about dating because of him. And I want to know why the justice system isn’t taking this as seriously as it is,” she told Fox News Digital.
According to the records, the repeat offender has been in and out of police custody since at least 2005. He was serving time in state prison for burglary and robbery charges and claimed Tuesday he had no objection to the peeking and prowling. He was released from custody hours later despite serving a 60-day prison sentence under California law.
He was arrested on August 6 after allegedly spitting at a family home where there were children. He was also released earlier this year while serving a year in prison for indecent exposure in Santa Clarita.
“This has been happening for over 13 years, so they either have to get him serious help by putting him in a facility that can, or keep him in prison where he can no longer harm anyone,” Witter said.
Crowder was arrested Thursday, a day after Fox News Digital announced his name was not on the state register. This time, prison records show, he was held on $20,000 bail — but only briefly before Gascon’s office declined to pursue the charge of failure to register.
Another TikToker using this Treat @artofetherealityShe posted video of herself turning and confronting a man, identified as Crowder, whom she found crouching behind her at the Burbank Barnes & Noble, which she allegedly took in in March.
“This is a real disaster that we girls are going through and it needs to be taken seriously,” she wrote in the caption.
As of Sunday, Crowder had not been charged in the bookstore incidents.
Glendale Police, who have repeatedly arrested Crowder over the years only to watch the criminal justice system put him back on the streets, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
They are still asking anyone with information about Crowder’s possible wrongdoing to contact them at 818-548-4911.
“Glendale Police arrested Crowder yesterday for failing to register under Section 290 of the Criminal Code,” the statement continued. “After careful consideration of the evidence, the Office could not bring charges as there was insufficient evidence to justify the notification requirement.”
Gascon also said his office was alerted to a viral video of Crowder at the Barnes & Noble in Burbank.
This incident is being investigated by the Burbank Police Department.
“The Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office has not received a case related to this incident,” he said. “There are no other cases against Crowder pending review by the Bureau.”
