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ENTERTAINMENT NEWS
October 14, 2009 09:09:22 AM

A Los Angeles judge on Tuesday ordered a Florida man to stand trial for allegedly stalking Olympic gold medal-winning gymnast Shawn Johnson earlier this year.

Robert O'Ryan was arrested in March trying to scale a fence at television studios in Los Angeles where Johnson was participating in talent contest "Dancing With the Stars."

Police later found a loaded handgun and shotgun in his car as well as duct tape, officials said.

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Michael Carter said O'Ryan should stand trial for alleged stalking but dismissed a charge of attempted kidnapping.

Prosecutors had "met the burden of proof for the stalking charge," Carter said, adding that O'Ryan "did intend to stalk the victim and place the victim in fear."

An arraignment hearing was set for October 27.

During a preliminary hearing in March, a police detective testified that O'Ryan was convinced he and Johnson were destined to be together.

Los Angeles police Detective Martha Defoe said O'Ryan told police "voices in his head had convinced him that it was a good idea to come out to Los Angeles to protect" Johnson, who was "in love with him."

O'Ryan's defense attorney Judith Greenberg argued Tuesday her client merely had a "crush" on Johnson and was not a stalker. "He was a fan inspired to come to Los Angeles with all of his possessions," Greenberg said.

Johnson, 17, won a gold medal for the balance beam and a silver medal in the individual all-around competition at the 2008 Summer Olympics.

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