Stalker of ‘Idol’ host Seacrest jailed for two years
A 26-year-old obsessed with television personality Ryan Seacrest was jailed for two years Monday, after pleading no contest to stalking the “American Idol” host.
Chidi Benjamin Uzomah was also ordered to stay a minimum of 500 yards away from Seacrest and his workplace for 10 years, Los Angeles Deputy District Attorney Wendy Segall said.
Uzomah, who had already been ordered to stay away from Seacrest after an incident last year involving one of the television host’s security guards, was arrested last October after visiting a television studio where Seacrest works.
The six-foot four-inch 200-pound former member of the National Guard was carrying a pocket knife at the time of his arrest, police said.
A police detective testifying at an earlier hearing said Seacrest had been “very intimidated by Mr Uzomah’s presence, by his size.”
“He was very much in fear of him,” detective Rosibel Smith said.
A lawyer for Seacrest praised authorities after Monday’s hearing. “Ryan is extremely appreciative of the work of the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office in this matter,” attorney Blair Berk said.
