Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Alberta man who wanted date with CBC 'Heartland' star agrees to peace bond


Heartland cast member Amber Marshall poses on the red carpet at the 24th Annual Gemini Awards in Calgary, Saturday, Nov. 14, 2009. A lovelorn Alberta man charged with stalking one of the stars of the CBC series "Heartland" has agreed to a peace bond that will keep him away from her. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Larry Macdougal
Amber Marshall

OKOTOKS, Alta. - It turns out there is a bond between a lovelorn Alberta man and the winsome object of his desire from the CBC series "Heartland" — a $3,000 peace bond, to be exact.
Jacob Cornelis Glas, 21, was charged with criminal harassment last summer after driving from his home in High River to the rural set of the TV drama near the community of Millarville.
He had hoped to persuade security guards to pass on notes asking one of the show's stars, Amber Marshall, on a date. Glas had previously visited the set four times with other letters expressing affection for the actress. When police were called this time, they found a rifle and 1,000 rounds of ammunition in his car.
"You've caused no end of trouble for people and no end of embarrassment for yourself," Okotoks provincial court Judge Mike Dinkel said Tuesday.
"Your behaviour in relation to Miss Marshall and the people on the set is totally unacceptable."
Glas agreed to the peace bond which, if kept for 12 months, allows him to avoid prosecution on the criminal harassment charge.
He is prohibited from contacting Marshall in any way and cannot go within 100 metres of her, her workplace or her home.
Glas also pleaded guilty to improper display of a firearm. The judge sentenced him to seven days, which he has already served in custody. He is further prohibited from owning a firearm for five years and must undergo counselling.
Defence lawyer Joe Nieman said his client never meant to harm Marshall and he was going gopher hunting the day he showed up at the TV set with his gun.
"This has been a source of embarrassment for him," said Nieman. "Everyone thinks he is enamoured."
Police said Glas took a liking to the 23-year-old woman in June, when she was in the local High River parade. He believed her smiles and waves were directed at him and later watched all four seasons of her TV show.
Marshall plays the feisty Amy Fleming in the homespun CBC series about two sisters and their grandfather who run a horse ranch near Alberta’s picturesque foothills.
Glas sat quietly in the courtroom and had nothing to say to the judge.
Nieman said the notes to Marshall were innocent and non-threatening. "They said, 'Would you like to go out sometime?'"

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