Authorities in Connecticut have arrested and charged a 40-year-old Oregon man with stalking and harassing University of Connecticut basketball star Paige Bueckers.
Robert Cole Parmalee was being held at Hartford Correctional Center on a warrant issued for his arrest by the University of Connecticut Police on Friday and was being held on $100,000 bail after appearing in court Monday. ESPN reported.
Parmalee was formally charged with disturbing the peace, electronic stalking and harassment.
According to the University of Connecticut Police, the university became aware of Parmalee in June after the school's public relations department received a “disjointed” email in which Parmalee claimed to be a member of the royal family and wanted to marry a member of the university's women's basketball team.
Parmalee is accused of making dozens of social media posts mentioning Bueckers and making threatening comments about the University of Connecticut basketball star, as well as his friends and family.
In a post on his TikTok account, he threatened to kill himself along with others “if he doesn't get to live with the woman of his choice,” according to ESPN, likely a reference to Bueckers.
Other posts on social media mention the Bookers, and Parmalee appears to have posted a fake wedding invitation along with a photo of a diamond engagement ring.
Parmalee was originally arrested by Connecticut State Police on August 27 as he was walking on a toll road near Bradley International Airport, telling officers he was on his way to meet Bueckers.
WTNH reported “During this exchange, Parmelee declared that he was the father of over 17,000 children and that he was going to meet Paige,” the University of Connecticut police report states. [UCONN WBB Player Paige Bueckers].”
According to ESPN, state police arrested Parmalee on an outstanding arrest warrant in Oregon and he was facing extradition to the state, but the University of Connecticut has learned that the state plans to drop the charges.
Judge Rick Rubino issued a protective order against Parmalee during a court appearance Monday.
“You may not assault, threaten, abuse, harass, follow, obstruct or stalk that person,” Rubino told Parmalee in court.
Parmalee is due to appear in court again on October 22nd.
He was represented by public defender Katie Malak, who told the court that the University of Connecticut was officially trespassing on Parmalee and that he would comply with its orders.
She contested the electronic stalking charge, telling the court it requires intent to kill, injure, harass or intimidate someone, but there is nothing of the sort in the warrant or police report.
According to an affidavit in the arrest warrant application, Bueckers told authorities that Parmalee began sending her videos on Instagram in February, and the University of Connecticut women's basketball star told campus police she was concerned about the safety of herself, her teammates and her family.
