ANTI-STALKING TEAM MOBILIZES.

Byline: Stacy Brown Daily News Staff Writer

An amended law announced by the Los Angeles District Attorney's Office will allow police agencies countywide to have a team of two prosecutors to help prevent stalking and workplace violence.

The Stalking and Threat Assessment Team began July 1 - the first day of the new fiscal year - and District Attorney Gil Garcetti said prosecutors are already working with local law enforcement agencies.

The two deputy district attorneys will be available to educate and train local officers, along with prosecuting suspected stalkers.

``If you are being threatened or stalked at work or at home, no longer do you have to wait until you are attacked before law enforcement can step in and help,'' Garcetti said.

California became the first state to enact a law against stalking in 1991.

Under that law, a person was given a citation to appear on misdemeanor charges. But Deputy D.A. Rhonda Saunders said Friday that under the new law the first offense will be a felony punishable by up to four years in state prison.

``People no longer have to sit around and feel they have to wait until they are killed before something is done,'' Saunders said.

She said the law will prevent individuals from making threats and getting away with it.

``Now we only have to show the suspect presented a threat, whether he said `I'm going to kill you,' or made gestures suggesting harm would be done,'' Saunders said.

Saunders said the recent stalking case she prosecuted involving pop star Madonna helped to raise the public's awareness.

``One reason (Madonna's) case was so important was that people realized how serious this can be,'' Saunders said. Robert Dewey Hoskins, serving a 10-year sentence for repeatedly stalking and threatening the singer, her body guard and personal assistant, was in court Friday for an examination where he told the court he would ``come back and get all of you,'' Saunders said.

Actress Teresa Saldana, who became an anti-stalking advocate after she was stabbed and nearly killed by a stalker in 1982 joined Garcetti at a news conference announcing the new law.

``If I had been able to call a team like this . . . I believe it's possible that my attack could have been preventable,'' said the former ``Raging Bull'' cast member and co-star of TV's ``Commish.''

``Being a victim of a stalker is a hideous, insidious situation,'' she said. ``It never goes away. When someone is after you, it's like the proverbial bogeyman, only it's in real life.''

Garcetti said STAT prosecutors Saunders and Scott Gordon, who is reviewing Bosnian war crimes, will work with law enforcement agencies to issue emergency protective and restraining orders when necessary.

``Our mutual goal is to intervene before threats escalate to violence or death,'' Garcetti said.