Jimmy Wayne Carwyle, 48 from Mississippi, has pleaded not guilty to felony stalking and vandalism. In May, Judge Maria Cavalluzzi found him not competent to stand trial after evaluations from two experts.
At Friday's hearing in a Los Angeles court dedicated to mental health cases, she heard arguments on Carwyle's treatment and placement.
Aniston's lawyer, Blair Berk, detailed two years of Carwyle's harassment and stalking, including various failed attempts to make physical contact with the actor.
Cavalluzzi said she leaned toward sending Carwyle to a mental health treatment alternative to imprisonment. She requested another hearing,to hear from a mental health professional before making a final decision.
The judge acknowledged Aniston's "very real" fear, but she said she can't ignore the opinions of mental health professionals who have evaluated Carwyle and deemed him not a danger to society.
Prosecutors alleged Carwyle had been harassing the "Friends" star with a flood of voicemail, email and social media messages for two years before driving his car through the gate of her home in the wealthy Bel Air neighbourhood of Los Angeles on May 5, "only feet away from where she was," Berk said.
Carwyle had a stated and "persistent delusion" to impregnate Aniston with three children, Berk said, and "there is simply no way to prevent him from carrying out his delusion if he walks out."
Carwyle's lawyer, Robert Krauss, said his client qualifies for alternative treatment, arguing that he hasn't been convicted of violent crimes.
Carwyle was present at the hearing and addressed questions from Cavalluzzi, saying he "wasn't right in the head," when asked about the text messages he sent Aniston. He said he has been taking medication, which is keeping him focused, and admitted his wrongdoing.
When Cavalluzzi asked how she can be sure he won't walk away from the treatment program — a stated concern from the prosecution — Carwyle responded, "You have my word."
Carwyle remains jailed, but he is under a judge's order not to contact or get near Aniston.
Authorities said Aniston was home at the time of the gate crash, but he did not come into contact with her. A security guard stopped him in her driveway until police arrived. No one was injured.
Carwyle also faces an aggravating circumstance of the threat of great bodily harm.
Aniston became one of the biggest stars in television in her 10 years on NBC's "Friends." She won an Emmy Award for best lead actress in a comedy for the role, and she has been nominated for nine more. She currently stars in "The Morning Show" on Apple TV+.
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