Michael Barrett Pleads Not Guilty to Stalking ESPN's Erin Andrews
In a maneuver that should surprise no one, accused stalker and purveyor of fine videos, Michael Barrett 48, pleaded not guilty in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles on Monday. The charge against Barrett was one count of interstate stalking realting to secret videos he allegedly made of ESPN reporter Erin Andrews. Barrett's lawyers have stressed in past hearings that their client has no prior criminal record and says he is deeply sorry for the circumstances "that prompted the charges."
Said circumstances have been outlined ad nauseum in the press and with great clarity here in Findlaw.com's very own Blotter. Those particular activities of Barrett's that lead to the single charge he now faces include the well reported travels to hotels where Andrews was staying at least three times during the last year. Prosecutors have said Barrett rented an adjacent room to Andrews, altered the door peephole and shot videos of Andrews.
It has also been reported that at Barrett's bail hearing, evidence was given that Andrews, an ESPN correspondent, was not his only victim. "Yes, Judge, there are other women," said Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven Grimes. "He has used his computer to disseminate these videos to the world."
Barrett is scheduled to return to court on January 12. Currently, he is out on $100,000 bond. Initially, his bond was set at $4,500, but it was raised after attorney's for Ms. Andrews convinced the judge that Barrett posed a public threat.
If convicted, he faces up to five years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000.
Related Resources:
- Suspect Pleads Not Guilty in Erin Andrews Videos Case (Fox News)
- Accused Erin Andrews Stalker Granted Bail, Denied Internet (Fox News)
- Erin Andrews Peephole Charges & Interstate Stalking (FindLaw's Blotter)
- 3.4 Million Stalker Victims in a Year: DOJ Report Shows Gravity of Stalking in the US (FindLaw's Common Law)
- Stalking (provided by John F. Marshall)
- Criminal Law FAQ (provided by Law Office of Erik P. Kaeding)
