NEW YORK, April 9 (Reuters) – A Canadian woman was charged
on Monday with stalking actor Alec Baldwin after appearing
outside his New York City apartment over the weekend following a
series of e-mails and messages that in some cases referred to
the bachelor as her husband.
Genevieve Sabourin, 40, of Montreal was charged with five
misdemeanor offenses including aggravated harassment and
stalking, and she was released on her own recognizance.
New York City criminal court Judge Richard Weinberg also
ordered Sabourin to stay away from Baldwin, and have “no contact
whatsoever, direct or indirect,” with the “30 Rock” actor.
The charges and Sabourin’s arrest on Sunday stem from a
series of text messages and e-mails she sent Baldwin since the
two met for dinner in Fall 2010, according to the criminal
complaint filed in the case.
In court, Baldwin’s attorney said the actor, who just last
week announced his engagement to girlfriend Hilaria Thomas, had
agreed to meet with Sabourin as a favor to a friend.
Initially, the e-mails and texts following that meeting were
simply “annoying” to Baldwin, and he asked Sabourin to stop,
according to a criminal complaint filed in the case.
Last week, the volume and intensity of the e-mails increased
and included one that said, in part, “I NEED TO START MY NEW
LIFE, WITH MY NEW NAME, WITH MY NEW CARRIER IN MY NEW COUNTRY
HELP MY NEWLY HUSBAND, YOU!,” according to the complaint.
It said the e-mails caused Baldwin “anxiety, annoyance and
fear” for his safety and business.
A court-appointed attorney for Sabourin, a petite woman who
appeared in court wearing all black, told Judge Weinberg she and
Baldwin “had a mutual relationship with texts, emails going in
both directions” and added “there is not a single threat here.”
A new court date was set for May 14.
(Reporting by Gianna Palmer; writing by Bob Tourtellotte)
