Sheryl Crow: Judge grants singer’s request for 3-year restraining order

SANTA MONICA, Calif. (AP) — A judge granted singer-songwriter Sheryl Crow a three-year restraining order against a man who acknowledged he threatened to shoot her and film executive Harvey Weinstein.

Philip Gordon Sparks, 45, agreed to stay away from the Grammy winner and Mr. Weinstein after an hour-long hearing in which he accused the pair of stealing $7.5 million from him, videotaping and following him without permission, and leaving him homeless. A forensic psychiatrist who interviewed Mr. Sparks recently called him "imminently dangerous" and said his psychosis is directed intently at Miss Crow.

Superior Court Judge James Hahn ordered Mr. Sparks to stay 300 yards away from Miss Crow and Mr. Weinstein and make no attempt to contact them.

Judge Hahn, a former Los Angeles mayor who was appointed as a judge in 2008, presided over the hour-long hearing, patiently instructing Mr. Sparks to ask questions and allow him to describe at length his reasons for feeling persecuted.

Miss Crow obtained a temporary restraining order against the 45-year-old Mr. Sparks in July after her team reviewed a series of his online posts directed at the singer.

A worker at the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists wrote in a declaration accompanying Miss Crow's filing that she spoke with Mr. Sparks on July 16 and he made the threat against Miss Crow. He also threatened to shoot Mr. Weinstein because he believed they were filming him and had stolen millions from him, the worker stated.

Miss Crow, 50, has won nine Grammy Awards and has two sons, ages 5 and 2, who are also covered by the order.

Mr. Sparks said he made the statement because he was frustrated because he believes they stole from him and continued to follow him.

"Mr. Sparks is unambiguously delusional," Dr. David Glaser, forensic psychiatrist, testified during the hearing.

Neither Miss Crow nor Mr. Weinstein attended the hearing.

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