Halle Berry stalker ordered to stand trial

Judge Melissa Widdifield of the Los Angeles Superior Court ruled Monday that a man charged with stalking actress Halle Berry should stand trial on one count of stalking and one count of residential burglary.

The defendant, Richard A. Franco, 27, plead not guilty to both charges. Judge Widdifield came to the ruling after hearing from two witnesses. Franco will remain in jail on $150,000 bail until he returns to court on October 31 for arraignment.

On July 9 of this year, Berry allegedly saw the man standing outside her Hollywood Hills home. Her manager told the man to leave, but he returned again the next day, at which point Berry rushed upstairs to call 911.

According to Los Angeles Police Detective John Gregozek’s testimony, Franco was arrested in possession of keys to Berry’s guesthouse, where Berry has a personal beauty salon and some of her wardrobe.

Gregozek went on to say that Berry, who was not called to testify at the hearing, still fears for the safety of her and her little daughter, explaining that Berry had hired armed security to stay at her residence for 24 hours.

After Franco’s arrest, Berry obtained a civil restraining order against the man. “This person has invaded and trampled upon the most fundamental sense of security I have, and I am extremely frightened of him and what he might do to me or those I love,” she wrote in her July petition.

Source: CBS News