(3/4/98)
SANTA MONICA, Calif. -- A man alleged to have been plotting to rape filmmaker Steven Spielberg was convicted today of felony stalking.
Jonathan Norman, 31, paled slightly when the verdict was read by a court clerk.
The jury then went back to deliberations after briefly hearing evidence on whether Norman's sentence should be based on previous convictions, which would make him eligible for California's ``third strike'' law mandating 25 years to life in prison.
Norman would face a six-year term otherwise.
The verdict was reached Tuesday after 3 1/2 hours of deliberations but Superior Court Judge Steven Suzukawa delayed the reading until today.
Spielberg, who testified during the trial, was not in court for the verdict.
``I think he's on a mission and he won't be satisfied until he accomplishes the mission, and I think I'm the subject of the mission,'' Spielberg testified last week.
Norman's former lover Charles Markovich was present for the verdict, listening quietly from the audience. He had been a witness against Norman.
Norman was arrested after he made two attempts to enter Spielberg's home last June and July. Police said he had lists of Spielberg's family members and associates and brought with him handcuffs, duct tape and a razor knife. Prosecutors called the equipment a ``rape kit'' and alleged that Norman wanted to handcuff Spielberg and his wife, actress Kate Capshaw, and make her watch while the director was sexually assaulted.
When Norman came to Spielberg's home, the director and his family were in Ireland where he was making a film. Spielberg said he was contacted and ordered beefed-up security around his family, including his mother who lives in Los Angeles.
Spielberg, 50, told jurors last week that he has suffered from anguish, nightmares and fears for his family ever since he was told about Norman's plot to hold him captive and rape him.
The famed director said he was at first reluctant to become involved in a court case but later decided he had no choice because he wanted to protect his family.
During the trial, Norman's public defender, John Lawson, balked at the allegations against his client, telling jurors it's no crime to have ``weird thoughts'' about someone famous.
Lawson also pointed out that Norman never entered Spielberg's property and ``every time he's told to beat it, he does. I mean, he leaves the property.''