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Man accused of stalking Paige Bueckers appears in court
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Man accused of stalking Paige Bueckers appears in court

(WFSB) – A man accused of stalking and harassing a University of Connecticut basketball player online appeared in court Monday.

Robert Parmalee, 40, of Washington state, was accused of sending numerous emails about basketball star Paige Bueckers to university officials.

In court on Monday, a judge set his bail at $100,000. If he pays it, he will not be allowed to enter the city of Mansfield or have any contact with Bueckers, according to court officials.

Robert Parmalee was arrested on suspicion of stalking UConn basketball player Paige...
According to state police, Robert Parmalee has been arrested on suspicion of stalking UConn basketball player Paige Bueckers.(Connecticut State Police)

UConn police said the university’s communications team received anomalous emails from Parmalee dating back to June, in which the suspect professed his love and said he wanted to marry Bueckers.

The emails also claimed that Parmalee was a member of the royal family and referenced Greek mythology, with Parmalee representing Apollo and Bueckers representing Athena.

UConn police arrested Parmalee on an active warrant Friday, charging him with disorderly conduct, stalking and harassment.

During an investigation, police discovered an Instagram and Facebook account belonging to Parmalee. They said the posts on those sites included a poem written to Bueckers asking her to marry him.

According to police, there were also Facebook posts referencing other former and new UConn players.

Parmalee was arrested on Aug. 27 in Windsor Locks on another arson warrant out of Oregon, accused of trying to set fire to a house his roommate was still in.

Parmalee had arrived at Bradley International Airport.

He was nearly hit by cars on Route 20 in Windsor Locks, near the airport. He told state police he had fathered more than 17,000 children and that he was visiting Bueckers.

UConn police served their arrest warrant after learning that Parmalee was about to be released because Oregon was dropping the charges.

UConn students are relieved he never made it to campus.

“I think that’s insane,” UConn senior Kapita Kalemba said. “To fly out here and actually try to do what he said. It’s pretty crazy.”

“That’s quite strange and it’s also not safe for the other students,” Kalemba added.

Former prosecutor and current defense attorney Ryan McGuigan has handled similar cases.

“I think we’re talking about someone who is mentally ill and is a potential threat to another human being,” McGuigan said. “The right place for that person is not a prison, it’s a psychiatric hospital.”

He must appear in court again on October 22.

A man accused of stalking and harassing a University of Connecticut basketball player online appeared in court Monday.