Wednesday, 31 March 2010

• Prev
• Next

Jennifer Garner 'stalker' sent to mental hospital

Judge finds Steven Richard Burky insane

Jennifer Garner has two daughters with actor Ben Affleck

A man accused of harassing Jennifer Garner and husband Ben Affleck has been sent to a mental institute.

Steven Richard Burky was arrested in December after turning up outside the Santa Monica nursery that the couple's children attend, in violation of a restraining order.

But after a short trial - in which two psychiatrists declared he was not of sound mind - Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Katherine Mader found him not guilty of stalking charges by reason of insanity.

Burky, 37, had earlier pleaded no contest to 2 counts of felony stalking.

'The judge presided over a short trial over and found him not guilty by reason of insanity,' Los Angeles District Attorney spokeswoman Jane Robison tells E! Online.

Burky has been ordered to Patton State Hospital and will not be allowed out until doctors declare him mentally fit.

Jennifer and Ben, both 37, have also obtained a restraining order banning him from coming within 500 yards of them or their children for 10 years.