Man charged with stalking and weapons offences at hearing in Los Angeles over incident at home of Oscar-winning actor

This article is more than 5 years old

This article is more than 5 years old

A man who allegedly broke into Sandra Bullock’s home while she hid in a closet and called police for help was ordered on Thursday to stand trial on stalking and weapons charges.

Evidence showed that Joshua James Corbett stalked the Oscar-winning actor, broke into her home and possessed an arsenal of illegal assault weapons, Los Angeles superior court judge Terry A Bork ruled.

Bork said an emergency call in which a panicked Bullock described seeing a man in her home showed that Corbett was a danger.

“I’m in my closet. I have a safe door,” Bullock is heard telling the dispatcher in the recording played in court. “I’m locked in the closet right now.”

Corbett was clutching a black notebook with a two-page letter to Bullock and magazine photos of the actor when he was arrested.

“He said: ‘I’m sorry. I love you Sandy,’” police officer José Bermudez testified.

Corbett’s defence lawyer argued unsuccessfully to have stalking and burglary charges thrown out on the grounds that he was suffering from a delusion that he was married to the actor and was trying to deliver a love letter.

“The love letter that Mr Corbett carried with him professed nothing but love and admiration,” attorney Paul Takakjian said. “There is nothing in there about harming her. The people are trying to make more of the case than there is.”

Deputy district attorney Wendy Segall said Corbett had appeared at Bullock’s house three nights in a row and had broken into her home in the middle of the night. “It’s clear that he was stalking her repeatedly and maliciously,” she said.

The judge said graphic entries in the notebook, combined with photos of the actor wearing sheer clothing with a low neckline, supported an inference that there was a sexual motivation.

“You are so hot and intelligent and lithesome and taut,” the judge read from the notebook, followed by an explicit, sexual entry.

“One sees there is more than merely a desire for connubial bliss, however misplaced,” Bork said.

Corbett is also charged with having a collection of illegal weapons, including assault weapons, tracer ammunition and machine guns that were found when authorities searched his home. Corbett was not armed when he was arrested at Bullock’s residence, police said.

Bullock, who told police during the emergency call that she was not armed and that her son was not at home, did not testify during Corbett’s preliminary hearing.

Corbett, 39, is being held on bail of more than $2m (£1.4m) and has pleaded not guilty to all charges. He is due to be arraigned on 23 April.