Seacrest's stalker charged
(China Daily)
2009-11-04 10:24
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Prosecutors brought felony charges on Monday against an Army reservist who allegedly stalked Ryan Seacrest (pictured), including showing up at the American Idol host's studio and attacking one of his bodyguards.
Chidi Benjamin Uzomah Jr, 25, faces up to four years in prison if convicted of the stalking charge.
He was arrested on Friday after he appeared at the E! Entertainment Television headquarters and tried to see Seacrest, whose radio show is produced at the location. A restraining order petition filed by Seacrest's attorneys stated he was carrying a knife.
"His aggressive and violent efforts to come into physical contact with me are extremely frightening to me," Seacrest wrote in a declaration for the restraining order on Friday. "They have jeopardized not only my personal safety, but also the safety and well-being of those around me."
It is not his first brush with the law related to his Seacrest obsession.
Uzomah is on probation after pleading guilty in September to assault, battery and carrying a switchblade knife in Orange County after he attempted to meet Seacrest after an event and attacked one of the radio and television host's bodyguards. The charges were all misdemeanors.
Soon after his plea, Uzomah allegedly went to the offices of a radio station that airs Seacrest's morning show, not realizing Seacrest wasn't there. He then was arrested after showing up at the E! building last week.