JURORS FIND SPIELBERG STALKER GUILTY; `PREDATOR' COULD GET 25 YEARS TO LIFE IF `3 STRIKES' LAW APPLIES.Byline: Linda Deutsch Associated Press Associated Press: see news agency. Associated Press (AP) Cooperative news agency, the oldest and largest in the U.S. and long the largest in the world. A man described by a prosecutor as a predator and by his lawyer as mentally ill was convicted Wednesday of stalking director Steven Spielberg Noun 1. Steven Spielberg - United States filmmaker (born in 1947) Spielberg . Testimony at Jonathan Norman's trial showed he spoke of wanting to rape the filmmaker and went to Spielberg's mansion unaware the director was in Europe. ``I learned something today,'' defense attorney John Lawson
Norman, 31, is mentally ill and needs psychiatric treatment, Lawson said. But prosecutor Rhonda Saunders said a potentially disastrous attack was prevented by Norman's arrest. ``I would describe him as a predator, a stalker,'' she said outside court. ``Unless Mr. Norman was stopped, this activity would have continued, with disastrous consequences.'' Spielberg, who testified about the fear he felt after learning of the stalking, was not in court for the verdict. His lawyer, Kevin Marks Kevin Marks is author of the weblog Epeus Epigone and a software engineer at Google. He became principal engineer for Technorati after doing work for both Apple and the BBC. He is one of the founders of Microformats. , told reporters, ``Steven Spielberg and his family are very, very grateful to the jury for the verdict.'' Marks said Spielberg is aware he can speak at Norman's April 22 sentencing but has not decided whether he will do so. Norman was found to have two previous felony convictions from a 1995 assault case, which makes him potentially subject to California's ``three strikes, you're out'' law, which increases punishment for repeat offenders. Superior Court Judge Steven Suzukawa has the option to not count the previous felonies as ``strikes'' in considering an appropriate sentence or to let them stand and impose a maximum term of 25 years to life. Norman, 31, served a year in prison for the assault. He was arrested about six months after his release when he showed up at Spielberg's home demanding entry and carrying handcuffs hand·cuff n. A restraining device consisting of a pair of strong, connected hoops that can be tightened and locked about the wrists and used on one or both arms of a prisoner in custody; a manacle. Often used in the plural. tr.v. , duct tape and other items, which Saunders called ``a rape kit rape kit Forensic medicine A collection of receptacles–cups, envelopes, plastic bags, tubes, disposable items–cotton swabs, napkins, pipettes and tools–sterile comb for pubic hairs, sheets–used to obtain evidentiary specimens from a rape .'' ``He invaded the area of Mr. Spielberg,'' she told reporters. ``The research he did, the planning, shows an intelligence that makes him so dangerous.'' Lawson said his client was addicted to methamphetamines when he was arrested in the earlier case. He said Norman is a UCLA UCLA University of California at Los Angeles UCLA University Center for Learning Assistance (Illinois State University) UCLA University of Carrollton, TX and Lower Addison, TX graduate with a degree in economics but aspired to be an actor and fantasized about getting close to Spielberg to get into the industry. The defense attorney said he did not present a plea of insanity Noun 1. plea of insanity - (criminal law) a plea in which the defendant claims innocence due to mental incompetence at the time insanity plea criminal law - the body of law dealing with crimes and their punishment because it is too difficult under the law to support such a claim. CAPTION(S): Photo PHOTO Prosecutor Rhonda Saunders talks to the media after Jonathan Norman was convicted of stalking director Steven Spielberg. Associated Press |
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