Judge Halts Stalking Case Against Carpenter Accuser Citing Mental Health

A Los Angeles judge dismissed criminal charges against William Applegate, the man accused of stalking Sabrina Carpenter, after determining he is mentally unfit for trial. The ruling came over prosecutors' objections on August 25, but a five-year restraining order protecting Carpenter remains in effect. Carpenter had alleged in May that Applegate surveilled her home for a month and attempted to break in, describing his behavior as a dangerous fixation.

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The dismissal followed a psychiatric evaluation concluding Applegate lacked the mental capacity to participate in his own defense. He had faced eight misdemeanor counts, including stalking, disorderly conduct, battery, and trespassing, filed the day after a June court ordered him to stay 100 yards from Carpenter's residence, vehicle, and workplaces. The judge's ruling overruled objections from the Los Angeles City Attorney's Office.

Carpenter first sought protection in May, describing Applegate as a complete stranger who watched her home for a month before attempting to force entry. Applegate opposed the order by claiming the two were connected through a classified military-government program. The five-year restraining order remains in effect through 2031, and the article notes stalking cases against celebrities have increased alongside social media's role in enabling direct fan-artist interaction