ESPN’s Erin Andrews confronts stalker in court
Erin Andrews talks with reporters outside of courtroom.
ESPN sportscaster Erin Andrews got her day in court Tuesday as she faced her stalker, Michael Barrett, in a Los Angeles courtroom for the first time and broke down in tears. She asked a federal judge to show no mercy on Barrett and sentence him to the maximum of five years in prison.
Barrett avoided eye contact with Andrews and pleaded guilty to one felony count of stalking. He admitted to rigging peepholes at hotels in Ohio, Tennessee, and Wisconsin in 2008 and secretly shooting videos of her. Under a plea agreement, Barrett is expected to serve two years in prison, but Judge Manuel Real will make the final determination when Barrett returns for sentencing on Feb. 22.
“I am a victim of this sexual predator. I would like to see him immediately put in prison for as long as possible,” Andrews told the judge. “I have nightmares. I walk in crowds, and I see him in my peripheral vision. When I’m alone in my house, I have fears that he’s going to walk inside and hurt me.
“I don’t know him. I’ve never met him. I don’t know why he chose me. But I hope he never sees the light of day again.”
“My career has been ripped apart, which I’ve worked very hard for. I am subjected to crude comments and suggestions that I have partnered in a crime. I walk into stadiums, and fans say obscene things to me.”
Outside the courthouse, she told TV crews she fell apart in court. “I wanted to go right in and get it over with. The first couple minutes were very difficult. I lost it. My dad was trying to help me keep it together.”
Andrews wants Barrett classified as a sexual predator.
“He’s a threat to all women,” she said. “I don’t want someone else’s career to be ruined like this. It won’t come off the internet. Still to this day every time I check into a hotel room, I’m constantly looking around to see if he’s there.”
Andrews’ attorney, Marshall Grossman, said his client plans to seek civil remedies against “hotels and related parties involved,” push for stronger laws against stalking, and advocate for changes in hotel security.
If you enjoyed this post, please consider to leave a comment or subscribe to the feed and get future articles delivered to your feed reader.
[...] Bracht in the Daily Oklahoman discusses Erin Andrews’ appearance in federal court for the plea of her [...]