Man charged after putting trackers on vehicles of ex-wife, ex-girlfriend
A Highland man faces dual criminal cases after putting tracking devices on his ex-wife's and ex-girlfriend's vehicles, court records show.
Peter Kochopolous, 61, is not in custody. When arrested, he is ordered held on a $5,000 cash bond for each case — or $10,000 total.
Highland Police Det. Lee Natelborg wrote that an officer responded Jan. 31.
The ex-girlfriend's relative said Kochopolous had been stalking the woman.
Police pulled Kochopolous over at the Hart Street and Indianapolis Boulevard intersection. He admitted putting a tracking device under the passenger side of the woman's vehicle. The officer told him he trespassed on the woman's property and let him go.
The ex-girlfriend said she took her car to a mechanic who found a tracker on Jan. 21. He did the same to his ex-wife, she said. Police found the ex-girlfriend's second tracker on Jan. 31.
Kochopolous didn't show on Feb. 24 for a police interview.
Investigators subpoenaed the tracking company and learned the tracker was tied to Kochopolous.
The ex-girlfriend's relative kept the device found on Jan. 21, because the woman was 'waffling' about dating Kochopolous again, the affidavit states.
The woman and Kochopolous started dating in summer 2024 when they were next-door neighbors in Crown Point. By July, she found an Apple AirTag labeled 'HER' under her car.
Kochopolous said he needed 'to be able to trust her,' court reocrds state.
Later on, he started showing up wherever she was. On Christmas Eve, he cursed at her at a WalMart. He followed her to a bank.
Another relative saw Kochopolous 'peeping' through the apartment. They later found a ladder by the side of the building.
The woman said Kochopolous spat in her face. On Oct. 31, he threatened to throw acid in her face at a gas station.
He took her cell phone for a week and sent an intimate picture to her ex-boyfriend.
He is charged with three counts of stalking, one count of intimidation and six misdemeanors.
In the other case, Highland Police responded in May 2024 to Kochopolous' ex-wife's home.
The woman said Kochopolous put a tracker on her truck. Police later subpoenaed the tracker company and learned it was tied to him.
Kochopolous was there and told police he did it. The ex-wife filed a protection order against him. Records show she filed for divorce in November.
In her case, he is charged with three counts of stalking, one count of felony unlawful surveillance and three misdemeanors.
mcolias@post-trib.com
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