Updated October 30, 2009
Accused Miley Cyrus Stalker Gets Plea Deal
AP
SAVANNAH, Ga.
53-year-old Georgia man pleads guilty to resisting arrest on the set of a Miley Cyrus movie as part of plea deal.
A 53-year-old man pleaded guilty Friday to resisting police outside the set of a Miley Cyrus movie on the Georgia coast after prosecutors agreed to drop charges that he tried to stalk the teen pop star.
Mark McLeod, who told police he was engaged to marry the 16-year-old "Hannah Montana" star, was sentenced by a State Court judge to two years probation and was ordered to undergo a mental health evaluation. He was also banished from Savannah and surrounding Chatham County and ordered to stay away from Cyrus and her family.
District Attorney Larry Chisolm issued a statement saying prosecutors dropped attempted stalking charges against McLeod because they lacked evidence that his "attempt to reach or follow Miley Cyrus was different than the hundreds of other fans."
He also said authorities had to consider the safety of Cyrus and other citizens without overreacting because a celebrity was involved.
McLeod, of Appling, Georgia, had been jailed since Aug. 4. Police said he twice came to Tybee Island, 12 miles (19 kilometers) east of Savannah, looking for Cyrus over the summer as she filmed the Walt Disney Pictures movie "The Last Song."
Prosecutors moved quickly to resolve the case after a grand jury declined to indict McLeod on felony charges Wednesday. He pleaded guilty to misdemeanors of obstruction of a police officer and disorderly conduct. A third charge of attempted stalking, also a misdemeanor, was dropped.
McLeod's attorney, James Byrne, said he was pleased the unemployed assistant plumber would finally get help for any mental problems.
"I guess he's just like an avid fan and obviously there's some delusion going on, but that's not against the law," Byrne said. "The evidence didn't show that he ever had any intention of harming (Cyrus) or her family."
Cyrus' publicist, Meghan Prophet, declined to comment on the case Friday.
Wearing shackles and an inmate jumpsuit, McLeod wasn't asked about Cyrus in court Friday. He appeared confused at times, particularly when the judge told him he couldn't use a computer during his probation.
A spokeswoman for District Attorney Larry Chisolm said she could not immediately comment on the decision to drop the attempted stalking charge.
McLeod was first arrested in June after police said he made inappropriate comments to young girls gathered in hopes of glimpsing Cyrus during filming. A police report said McLeod told officers he was there "to be with Miley" and tried to head butt one of them as they tried to remove him in handcuffs from the beach.
Officer Warren Millikan wrote in his report that McLeod claimed he'd sent Cyrus diamond rings and other gifts and that she had accepted his marriage proposal. He said she sent him "secret messages" through her TV show.
McLeod was initially released from jail but was arrested a second time after returning to Tybee Island in August. Police said security officers for Walt Disney Pictures spotted him knocking on doors of homes near the movie set and asking residents if they knew where he could find Cyrus.
Fox Nation
-
NYT Execs Get Bonuses to Hire People Besides White Guys
March 12, 2010 29 comments
-
McCain Links Hayworth to 'Extreme Groups'
March 12, 2010 53 comments
-
Is Lady Gaga Video Too Hot for TV?
March 12, 2010 67 comments
-
Tom Brady Pushes Climate Change Weirdness
March 12, 2010 100 comments
-
Sean Penn Kicks Reporter Out of Press Conference
March 12, 2010 89 comments
-
Mexican Military Chopper Violates U.S. Airspace
March 12, 2010 82 comments
-
Forbes: 'Out of Control' Prius Was a Hoax
March 12, 2010 70 comments
-
Disgraced NYT Editor Blames Fox News for Obamacare Troubles
March 12, 2010 160 comments
-
Andrea to Elijah Cummings on Obamacare: 'You've Got to Get This for Him'
March 12, 2010 195 comments
-
DOJ: Holder Omissions Wider Than Thought
March 12, 2010 15 comments
Most Commented
-
Did Health Care Summit Accomplish Anything?
February 25, 2010 1,450 comments
-
Health Care Summit: How’s It Going?
February 24, 2010 1,269 comments
-
Was Tiger's Apology Good Enough for You?
February 19, 2010 1,250 comments
-
Does the 'Reconciliation' Gambit Make You Angry?
March 03, 2010 1,240 comments
-
Is Democrats' Health Care Reform Legislation Doomed?
March 10, 2010 1,130 comments

-
The Cost-Control Illusion
March 12, 2010
-
The Easy Way
March 12, 2010
-
Student Loan Chutzpah
March 12, 2010

-
Hardly a charitable response from Bob the bludgeoner
March 13, 2010
-
What women want is an end to hectoring by feminists
March 13, 2010
-
Order, let the honourable mistress of porn speak
March 13, 2010
-
Prison works – when we keep criminals in
March 13, 2010
-
Welcome to life under Nick Clegg
March 13, 2010

-
Chump Change
March 14, 2010
-
Free Trade Watch
March 12, 2010 15 comments
-
Fiscal Responsibility is No Fun
March 12, 2010 10 comments
-
Pigs at the Trough
March 12, 2010 9 comments
-
Tonight's Show: More Licensing Madness
March 11, 2010 45 comments

-
Greece's Problem? The New York Times
March 09, 2010 3 comments
-
Tired of Bailout Nation?
March 05, 2010 46 comments
-
The Case for Medical Malpractice Reform
March 03, 2010 32 comments
-
Another AIG Magical Mystery Tour
March 01, 2010 3 comments
-
New York Times Whiffs on Greece, Again
February 26, 2010 12 comments

-
Run! It's Zombie James Brown!
March 14, 2010
-
Free speech vs. gay rights
March 14, 2010
-
And now...iStations
March 14, 2010
-
Ruling: "under God" is constitutional
March 14, 2010
-
Prayer for the Week
March 13, 2010



recommend

Subscribe to Comments

