Pictures

Finalist Candice Glover reacts following her performance after being announced the winner during the Season 12 finale of American Idol in Los Angeles May 16, 2013. Glover, a soul singer from rural South Carolina, was named "American Idol" on Thursday, becoming the first female singer to win the television singing competition since 2007. REUTERS/Phil McCarten

American Idol finale

Candice Glover, a soul singer from rural South Carolina, was named "American Idol", becoming the first female singer to win the television singing competition since 2007.  Slideshow 

Pictures

Photo

Reuters Photojournalism

Our day's top images, in-depth photo essays and offbeat slices of life. See the best of Reuters photography.  See more | Photo caption 

Photo

Best of Cannes

Style and scenes from the Cannes Film Festival.  Slideshow 

Photo

Ethiopia's salt trails

For centuries merchants have traveled to Ethiopia to collect salt from the surface of the vast desert basin.  Slideshow 

Sponsored Links

Judge dismisses case against Selena Gomez stalker

Related Video

Video

Gomez's stalker released, "Twilight" hits London

Thu, Nov 17 2011
Actress and singer and host of the show Selena Gomez arrives on the red carpet at the MTV Europe Music Awards show in Belfast November 6, 2011. REUTERS/Luke Macgregor

Actress and singer and host of the show Selena Gomez arrives on the red carpet at the MTV Europe Music Awards show in Belfast November 6, 2011.

Credit: Reuters/Luke Macgregor

LOS ANGELES | Thu Nov 17, 2011 6:47pm EST

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - A judge on Wednesday dismissed the case against an Illinois man who was accused of stalking actress and singer Selena Gomez earlier this year, a court official said.

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Edmund Clarke Jr. ruled that Thomas Brodnicki, 46, "lacked specific intent" to cause Gomez fear, said District Attorney spokeswoman Sandi Gibbons.

She said prosecutors were now "evaluating our next step."

Brodnicki pleaded not guilty earlier this month to one felony charge alleging that he stalked the 19-year-old entertainer between July and October.

Another judge in the case earlier had granted a stay-away order against Brodnicki in October. Brodnicki allegedly told a psychiatrist he traveled to Los Angeles to see Gomez and had conversations with God about killing her, according to court documents.

Gomez is best known for her work on children's shows such as "Wizards of Waverly Place." She also is the girlfriend of teen singer Justin Bieber.

(Editing by Zorianna Kit)
Entertainment
Fashion
Music
People
We welcome comments that advance the story through relevant opinion, anecdotes, links and data. If you see a comment that you believe is irrelevant or inappropriate, you can flag it to our editors by using the report abuse links. Views expressed in the comments do not represent those of Reuters. For more information on our comment policy, see http://blogs.reuters.com/fulldisclosure/2010/09/27/toward-a-more-thoughtful-conversation-on-stories/
Comments (2)
Stoat wrote:
This sends a loud, clear message to psychopaths everywhere that they’re ‘entitled’ to stalk, harass, terrorize and make life miserable not only for celebrities but for anyone at all. Nice going, judge. This is how people get killed.

Nov 16, 2011 9:37pm EST  --  Report as abuse
Tracie19 wrote:
Must be related to the judge in CA that let a convicted sex offender out of jail early just so he could go rape and murder a young girl the next week. Our justice system is a joke. I guess we need to start locking our kids up because the judges will never take responsibility!

Nov 20, 2011 2:56am EST  --  Report as abuse
This discussion is now closed. We welcome comments on our articles for a limited period after their publication.
See All Comments »