Quick Take
A Santa Cruz judge postponed seafood entrepreneur Clarice Owens’ felony stalking trial for a third time, pushing the start date from Aug. 17 to Nov. 30 after her attorney requested a delay.
A judge on Wednesday delayed the felony stalking trial of Santa Cruz seafood entrepreneur Clarice Owens by three months, pushing the start date from Aug. 17 to Nov. 30.
Owens’ lawyer, public defender Kristyn Skelly, requested the postponement, saying she would share the reason privately with Santa Cruz County Superior Court Judge Leila Sayar. Sayar granted the request.
This is the third time the court has delayed Owens’ trial; it had originally been scheduled to begin in January. She faces one felony charge of stalking and more than 20 misdemeanors for allegedly violating or disobeying protective orders.
Owens and her husband, Matthew Owens, founded Pescavore Seafood, a line of seasoned tuna jerky, in 2018. After a successful rise, including an appearance on “The Today Show” in October 2024, Owens allegedly began a campaign of online harassment against former colleagues, neighbors and members of the seafood industry. The Santa Cruz County Superior Court granted seven restraining orders against Owens to people or groups within the city and as far away as New York.
From December 2025 to March, Owens was in custody for violating the restraining orders and failing to appear for a mandatory hearing. Since her release, five people, none of whom have protective orders, have told Lookout that contact from Owens continues to negatively affect their lives. Her communications range from threatening to sue them to contacting business associates with false claims that threaten those relationships, the recipients said.
Santa Cruz County sheriffs arrested Owens on June 14 for allegedly violating a restraining order after contacting a protected person. She was released on bail the next day.
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