Entertainment and Celebrity News

A man accused of stalking Olympic gymnast Shawn Johnson has been found guilty.

Robert O’Ryan was taken into custody last March (09) after he attempted to break onto the Los Angeles set of Dancing With The Stars, where Johnson was a competitor.

Authorities later found duct tape, a shotgun, a handgun, a knife and a bulletproof vest in his car, and he was charged with felony stalking, felony commercial burglary and two misdemeanour counts of carrying a loaded firearm.

He pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity but at the end of his trial at L.A. Superior Court on Friday (11Jun10) he was convicted on all charges.

Earlier in the trial, Johnson, 18, described how the stalking threat forced her to scrap promotional appearances and change cars – and even consider leaving the TV competition so she could move away.

A hearing to rule on the outcome of O’Ryan’s psychological evaluation is scheduled for 13 July (10). If he’s found to be mentally stable, O’Ryan is facing a maximum of three years and eight months in state prison, plus two years in county jail, otherwise he could serve out his sentence in a state mental hospital.

Olympic gymnast Shawn Johnson almost quit her stint on reality show Dancing With The Stars following the arrest of a man suspected of stalking her because she feared for her safety.

Robert O’Ryan was taken into custody last March (09) after he attempted to break onto the Los Angeles set of Dancing With The Stars, where Johnson was a competitor.

Authorities later found duct tape, a shotgun, a handgun, a knife and a bulletproof vest in his car, and he was charged with felony stalking, felony commercial burglary and two misdemeanour counts of carrying a loaded firearm in his car.

He has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to the two felonies and is currently on trial at Los Angeles Superior Court.

Johnson, 18, took to the witness stand on Thursday (10Jun10) to describe how the stalking threat forced her to scrap promotional appearances and change cars and even consider leaving the TV competition so she could move away.

She told the court, “To see that somebody had that much obsession, it really made me scared.

“We had thought about leaving the show and moving home if it was necessary. We had kind of changed everything. I was told I couldn’t go shopping or basically (go) to public places.”

Johnson went on to win Dancing With the Stars and become the show’s youngest ever winner.

An attorney for O’Ryan, 36, maintains her client was not a stalker but merely had a “crush” on Johnson.

The case continues.

A man accused of stalking Olympic gymnast Shawn Johnson has waived his right to a jury trial after pleading not guilty by reason of insanity a day before he was due to appear in court.

Robert O’Ryan was arrested last March (09) after he attempted to break onto the Los Angeles set of Dancing With The Stars, where Johnson was a competitor.

Authorities later found duct tape, a shotgun, a handgun, a knife and a bulletproof vest in his car, and he was charged with felony stalking, felony commercial burglary and two misdemeanour counts of carrying a loaded firearm in his car.

An attorney for O’Ryan argued her client was not a stalker but merely had a “crush” on Johnson, telling the court during a previous hearing, “He was a fan inspired to come to Los Angeles with all of his possessions.”

The suspect, 36, was due to stand trial for the two felony charges on Tuesday (08Jun10) but pleaded insanity on Monday (07Jun10), leaving his fate in the hands of Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Michael Pastor, who will determine whether or not he is sane and guilty.

If convicted, O’Ryan faces up to six years behind bars. However, Pastor warned he could be held by medical authorities for a much longer period if he was convicted and proved to be insane.

Johnson, 18, was expected to testify in the trial.