Ryan Seacrest's alleged stalker ordered to stand trial
A man who has allegedly been stalking American Idol host Ryan Seacrest has been ordered to stand trial.
Chidi Uzomah Jnr faces one felony count of stalking and one misdemeanor count each of disobeying a court order and attempted disobeying of a court order after he was previously ordered to stay away from Seacrest.
Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Greg Dohi rejected the defence's motion to dismiss the case against Uzomah, who was convicted last year of assaulting a security guard who was assigned to protect Seacrest at an event.
Los Angeles Police Detective Rosibel Smith, who is assigned to the LAPD's threat management unit, said Seacrest told her that he was "very intimidated by Mr Uzomah's presence, by his size'' after being informed that the defendant had shown up to see him at the E! Entertainment building where he was working last October 30.
"He was very much in fear of him,'" Smith testified, noting that Seacrest knew Uzomah had been carrying a knife when arrested following his September 15 encounter with the defendant after a charity event at a children's hospital.
Uzomah also had a pocket knife with him when he was searched after his October 30 arrest at the E! building, the detective testified.
Uzomah is due back at the downtown Los Angeles courthouse for arraignment February 2.
