A man accused of stalking Jennifer Aniston made a disturbing court appearance just days after allegedly ploughing his car into the gates of her $21 million Los Angeles home.
Jimmy Wayne Carwyle, 48, has been charged with felony stalking and felony vandalism, after reportedly driving into the entrance of the Friends star’s Bel Air property while she was home.
Draped in a blanket and appearing half-dressed, Carwyle stood behind glass in a custody area during Thursday’s arraignment in LA, shooting unsettling looks toward the camera and making hand gestures.
The shocking incident took place around noon on Monday. According to police, Aniston’s security team stopped Carwyle and held him at gunpoint until officers from the Los Angeles Police Department arrived. He was arrested without further incident.
A spokesperson for the LAPD, officer Jeff Lee, confirmed to CNN that officers responded to reports of a “burglary suspect” who “ran his vehicle through the gate to the residence.” Lee added that the suspect, described as a white male, was detained by a security guard until officers arrived.
While Carwyle did not gain access to the property or encounter Aniston directly, his online behaviour leading up to the incident has raised concerns. For over two years, he allegedly sent her countless emails, voicemails, and social media messages.
The Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office said Carwyle is facing an aggravating circumstance “of the threat of great bodily harm.” His bail has been set at $150,000, and if convicted, he could serve up to three years in state prison.
Mississippi-born Carwyle did not speak or enter a plea in court. According to the Daily Mail, he will undergo mental health evaluation to determine his competency to stand trial.
DA Nathan Hotchman didn’t hold back in his comments, stating per Variety: “Stalking is a crime that can quickly escalate from harassment to dangerous, violent actions, threatening the safety of victims and our communities.
“My office is committed to aggressively prosecuting those who stalk and terrorize others, ensuring they are held accountable.
“By working together, we are ensuring that dangerous individuals are taken off our streets.”
Carwyle’s recent Facebook activity included messages that suggest he believed he had a personal connection to the 56-year-old actress. On March 26, he posted on Facebook, “I’ve been writing, since the Beginning Jennifer Joanna Aniston Carwyle, with you.
An October post shared an advert featuring Aniston promoting her haircare brand, with the caption: “I LOVE YOU Emanuel Jennifer Joanna Aniston Carwyle!”
In another post, he claimed that “corruption” was preventing him from being with her, writing: “If someone out there can reach Jennifer Joanna Aniston Carwyle, let her know about the corruption going on trying to keep Me from her, you will be Blessed!”
NBC News reported that Carwyle had been living in his car at a Walmart in Burbank since leaving Mississippi in September. His childhood friend, Steve Rhea, said Carwyle once held a good job as an automobile technician but quit five years ago and had since declined mentally.
“We just hope he gets the help he needs. I hope there’s some way to fix him, but I don’t know,” Steve told NBC News.
Aniston bought the 8,500-square-foot mid-century property in 2011. Designed by architect A. Quincy Jones, the house includes four bedrooms, six-and-a-half bathrooms, a wine cellar, pool, and a guesthouse. It’s also where she married Justin Theroux in 2015, before their divorce three years later.
In a 2018 interview with Architectural Digest, she said, “Aesthetically, it was the furthest thing from what I wanted, but I immediately had the sense that it could work. It’s hard to describe, but I felt a connection.”
She added: “I’m all about cozy. Sexy is important, but comfort is essential. Every corner you turn, you have an experience. Everywhere you look, you get a vista. We worked very hard to get that flow right.”
Aniston’s team has not commented on the incident.
