Sabrina Carpenter’s Alleged Stalker Won’t Face Charges Due to Mental Incompetency
The singer still has a restraining order against William Applegate, who allegedly attempted to break into her home in May.
Law enforcement has dismissed criminal charges against William Applegate, the alleged stalker of pop star Sabrina Carpenter, due to his mental incompetence. According to the Los Angeles City Attorney's Office, a judge ruled on August 25 that 31-year-old Applegate is too mentally unwell to stand trial. Carpenter alleged in a May legal petition that the "complete stranger" Applegate had surveilled her Los Angeles home for a month and attempted to break in.
She described him as having a "dangerous, delusional and irrational fixation" on her. Carpenter included in her court declaration that Applegate's actions have caused her significant fear for her and her family's safety. Applegate opposed the restraining order, claiming they were part of a "classified military-government program."
A judge in downtown Los Angeles had previously ordered Applegate to stay 100 yards away from Carpenter's home, car, and workplaces until 2031. However, due to Applegate's mental incompetence, a judge in Hollywood threw out the criminal charges on August 26. Since then, Applegate remains subject to the restraining order for five years.
Applegate's attorneys and representatives for Carpenter did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The issue of stalking, particularly in the age of social media, has become increasingly problematic. In recent years, the internet has made it easier for stalkers to locate their targets, leading some artists to seek legal intervention.
Other notable cases include individuals being criminally charged for stalking Taylor Swift and Fleetwood Mac frontman Lindsey Buckingham, both of whom have since been ruled mentally incompetent to stand trial.
Written by urgent.news from Billboard's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
