Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman announced charges on Wednesday against Jimmy Wayne Carweil, a 48-year-old man accused of crashing his car into the gate of Jennifer Aniston’s Bel Air home. The incident, which occurred on Monday, led to Carweil’s arrest for felony vandalism.
In a statement, Hochman emphasized the seriousness of stalking, stating, “Stalkers can escalate from mere harassment to dangerous behavior, which threatens both victims and the community.” He also underlined his office’s dedication to prosecuting individuals who engage in such alarming actions.
Carweil faces one count of felony stalking along with felony vandalism. Aniston’s security personnel detained him until the Los Angeles police took over on Monday.
According to the District Attorney’s office, Carweil has been accused of persistently harassing Aniston since March, engaging in unwanted social media messaging, emails, and phone calls.
His expected court appearance is set for Thursday, where prosecutors aim to establish a bail amount of $150,000.
Hochman expressed gratitude towards law enforcement and the stalker assessment team, acknowledging the work of Associate District Attorney Sam Flefeld. “By collaborating, we can ensure that dangerous individuals are removed from our streets,” he said.
If convicted, Carweil could face a sentence of up to three years in prison.
Aniston, well-known for her iconic role as Rachel Green in the television series “Friends,” was reportedly at home during the incident. The show, which aired from 1994 to 2004, also featured notable stars like Courteney Cox, Matthew Perry, and David Schwimmer.
This incident is a stark reminder of the safety challenges that many celebrities face, similar to recent high-profile robberies involving other stars such as Nicole Kidman and Pierce Brosnan in their Los Angeles homes.
