A 54-year-old man previously convicted of stalking pop icon Madonna was arrested recently in Norwalk after authorities allege he escaped from a mental facility there, the Los Angeles Times reports.
Cases involving conflicts between people can sometimes require restraining orders. Whether Los Angeles domestic violence situations or stalking cases, which are common in Hollywood, a restraining order can be an important piece of paper.
But Los Angeles Criminal Defense Attorney Vincent Howard has seen situations where the things said to get a restraining order are exaggerated and that can cause major damage. In order to get a temporary restraining order, a person simply has to go to the courthouse, fill out paperwork, wait their turn and go before a judge to explain why they want the order to be put in place.
Sadly, a judge can issue such an order without any defense from the person who is considered the defendant in these matters. So, a person can be told by police they have a restraining order against them without even knowing their significant other or spouse went to the courthouse to get one. Even a temporary order can lead to them being kicked out of their house or kept from their children. Often, police will allow a one-time trip to the house to get clothing and other necessities.
After the temporary order is put into place, this is when the defendant requires an experienced lawyer, such Los Angeles Criminal Defense Attorney Vincent Howard. During a hearing for the permanent order, the defendant can bring up important facts that can convince a judge not to make the temporary order permanent.
If a defendant shows up to court alone, but the plaintiff has an attorney, it could be an intimidating experience that turns worse when the judge buys the lawyer's argument and extends the order. This could mean no contact with the person, even if it's a spouse, no visiting the house -- that could be in the defendant's name -- and few or no visitation rights for children, even if they were unaffected.
These are major hardships that people can face in a domestic violence situation if a restraining order is put in place. But domestic violence situations aren't the only times when these orders are seen as useful. Given that Los Angeles is full of high-profile celebrities who are magnified in the news media, Los Angeles Criminal Defense Attorney Vincent Howard has seen how people want to try to get close to them.
Sometimes these aggressive fans cross the line and attempt to break into their houses or find their phone numbers and make threatening phone calls. Often, this can lead to an arrest or at the very least, it's possible the celebrity will seek a restraining order. In other cases, celebrities court fame, find it, and then moan about the resulting attention.
In this case, the 54-year-old man was convicted in 1996 because he began stalking pop star Madonna, telling her that he wanted to marry her or, if not , he would slash her throat. He jumped the fence of her Hollywood Hills home and was shot by one of the singer's security guards. She was out of state when that happened.
The man was sentenced to 10 years in prison and recently escaped from a mental hospital where he was being treated for psychological problems. Police say he walked away from the hospital and was on the loose for nearly a week before he was captured.
If you or a loved one would like to speak to a criminal defense attorney in Los Angeles or in any of the surrounding areas, contact HOWARD LAW PC for a confidential appointment to discuss your rights. Call 1-800-872-5925.
Additional Resources:
Madonna stalker arrested near Norwalk mental hospital that he fled, by Andrew Blankstein and Robert J. Lopez, Los Angeles Times
Police capture escapee who stalked Madonna, by Greg Risling, Associated Press
