{alltv} NY trial opens for accused stalker of TV actress

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

{alltv} NY trial opens for accused stalker of TV actress

NEW YORK – A fan of "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" relentlessly harassed one of the television show's stars, approaching her on filming locations and composing creepy missives about her on the Internet, a federal prosecutor said Tuesday in opening statements at his trial.

Charles Nagel of Philadelphia is charged with interstate stalking, stemming from his "obsession" with actress Kathryn Erbe, Assistant U.S. Attorney Allon Lifshitz told jurors in federal court in Brooklyn.

When Erbe tried to ignore Nagel, he grew angry and tried to confront her, the prosecutor said.

Defense attorney Robert Datner called his client "an interesting character" who meant no harm.

Nagel, who has pleaded not guilty, merely "went to a public place seeking autographs and photographs," the lawyer said.

Erbe, 44, has starred for nine seasons as Detective Alexandra Eames on the crime series.

A criminal complaint alleges that in 2008, Nagel traveled to New York with his wife and two children and went to a "Law & Order" filming location, where Erbe agreed to pose for a picture with the family.

Nagel, an aspiring song writer who uses the name "Chaz Rose," later complained on a social network "that the victim had not responded to a song and letter he had written her, that this was causing him to become angry and that he knew where the program was filming," the complaint says.

In early 2009, Nagel again went to filming location and approached Erbe, the complaint says. When she recognized him, she had a security guard tell him to leave.

The complaint says Nagel persisted by writing a letter to Erbe a few months later. It begged her to contact him, saying, "I pray to GOD you will talk to me and end my heartache."

Nagel also contacted Erbe's daughter on a social network last March, telling her he was "a harmless romantic who wrote songs" about her mother, the complaint says. The same account was used to send messages to the actress' brother.

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