Man Accused Of Stalking Halle Berry Will Stand Trial On Charges

The one guy Halle Berry couldn’t get rid of will stand trial for stalking her.

A Los Angeles Superior Court judge ruled Monday that a man charged with stalking Halle Berry should stand trial on two charges filed after he was repeatedly seen on the actress’ property earlier this year.

Judge Melissa Widdifield issued her ruling after hearing from two witnesses called during a preliminary hearing to show some of evidence against Richard A. Franco, who has pleaded not guilty to burglary and stalking charges.

Franco, who was dressed in a jail jumpsuit, will remain jailed on $150,000 bail, Widdifield ruled. He returns to court on Oct. 31 for arraignment.

He was charged after police arrested him outside the Oscar-winner’s home in July after he was seen trespassing on the property three times in three days.

Los Angeles Police Detective John Gregozek testified that when Franco was caught, he was carrying a key to Berry’s guesthouse, where Berry has her beauty salon and some of her wardrobe.

Gregozek said Franco apparently obtained the key on July 10, when he entered the house for about 20 seconds after Berry left the salon area to go to her kitchen. Franco was standing outside her kitchen door when Berry spotted him and locked the door and called police.

The actress did not attend the hearing, but Gregozek told the judge that she is still afraid of Franco.

The following night, after Berry had hired private security, Franco was seen climbing over the actress’ gate and coming onto her property. Joseph Vach, a retired California Highway Patrol officer, was working as private security and helped detain Franco. The man was carrying a notebook that included references to Berry and entering her home, Vach testified.

Berry obtained a civil restraining order against Franco after his arrest. “This person has invaded and trampled upon the most fundamental sense of security I have, and I am extremely frightened of him and what he might do to me or those I love,” she wrote in her July petition. The order also protected her daughter, Nahla.

Dude had a key!!! That’s so scary! It was bad enough when we thought he was just lurking on her property. This is ten times worse. We hope for Halle’s sake they keep this guy locked up!

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