LOS ANGELES — A man arrested after being caught three times at the home of Oscar-winning actress Halle Berry was jailed Thursday and ordered to stay away from her for a decade.
Richard Anthony Franco, 28, who entered a plea of no contest to one felony count of stalking, was sentenced to 386 days in jail, the Los Angeles Times reported, along with one year of psychological counseling.
Franco was already on probation when he was arrested in July after Berry’s neighbors reported a possible burglary, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Dennis Landin was told. In total he made three attempts in three days to get into the star’s Los Angeles property.
The plea deal spares Berry, 45, from having to appear at a trial to testify against him, E! Online reported.
Franco’s attorney argued that his client was not a credible threat to the “Monster’s Ball” star.
“I’m not saying Ms. Berry wasn’t afraid,” lawyer Marcus Huntley said, “but Mr. Franco is not charged with scaring Ms. Berry.”
Earlier this month it was reported that Berry, who is twice divorced, is engaged to her boyfriend, French actor Olivier Martinez, who dated Australian pop star Kylie Minogue for four years.
Berry’s previous marriages were to former baseball player David Justice and R&B singer Eric Benet.