Halle Berry is able to feel relieved today following the incarceration of a man who was convicted of stalking her.
In Los Angeles, Richard Franco received a prison sentence of 386 days.
However, the 27-year-old will regain his freedom in merely six months, despite having been arrested for climbing the wall of her Hollywood Hills residence.
The obsessed admirer—who has already served 193 days in custody—agreed to a plea deal with the prosecutors.
As part of this deal, he pleaded no contest to felony stalking while prosecutors dismissed a felony burglary charge.
Consequently, he was sentenced to 386 days in jail and, having completed half of that time already, he is expected to be released in roughly six months.
For the 45-year-old single mother, who has a three-year-old daughter, this has been a frightening ordeal.
During the July 2011 incident, it marked the man’s THIRD attempt to trespass on the Oscar winner’s property over the course of a single weekend.
Ultimately, he was apprehended after her private security team—comprised of off-duty police officers—saw him scale the back wall of her property, allegedly trying to enter a guest house.
A month later, the actress was granted a three-year restraining order against Franco by a judge, which has now been extended to ten years.
For the next decade, he must maintain a distance of at least 200 yards from both the actress and her daughter Nahla.
After his release, he will be required to undergo five years of probation and complete a one-year psychological program.
The twice-divorced actress is presently in a relationship with French actor Olivier Martinez.
The couple has denied claims of being engaged.
by Robbo Green
