Priest stalks T.V. Host for 25 years
Pastor Dale Morgan
Priest stalks T.V. Host for 25 years*
By Belinda Goldsmith in New York
November 10, 2007 10:22am
Article from: Reuters
A BOSTON priest who says he stalked popular US television host Conan
O'Brien since their days at Harvard University 25 years ago was declared
fit to stand trial on stalking and harassment charges.
The Reverend David Ajemian, 46, of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of
Boston was arrested a week ago trying to enter a taping of O'Brien's
show, Late Night with Conan O'Brien, at NBC studios in Manhattan.
He was charged with one count of stalking O'Brien and two counts of
aggravated harassment.
In court documents, Ajemian said he had gone after another celebrity
figure from his past who the priest said assaulted him in seventh grade:
tennis champion John McEnroe.
The Manhattan Criminal Court found Ajemian fit to stand trial after a
psychological evaluation and the judge set a $2500 cash bail for him,
the district attorney's office said.
The priest's lawyer told the court Ajemian had long battled psychiatric
problems, local media reported.
Court papers include postcards and letters that prosecutors say were
written by Ajemian. Signed "Padre," they were sent to the 44-year-old
O'Brien's home and the NBC studios from September 2006 until November
this year even after he was advised to cease contact with the TV presenter.
But in one letter, he wrote that he had been "tracking you through space
and time, from Mather House," referring to a Harvard dormitory.
A Harvard spokeswoman confirmed both men attended the university, with
Ajemian graduating in 1983 and O'Brien in 1985.
The letter demanded O'Brien make a "public confession before I even
consider giving you absolution" but made no reference to what he wanted
him to confess.
In other letters, Ajemian said he previously "went after my childhood
nemesis John McEnroe," saying the tennis player was a fellow student at
Trinity School, Manhattan, and assaulted him in seventh grade when he
refused to give him his seat.
In the letters, Ajemian described himself as O'Brien's "priest-stalker"
and voiced anger that he had been refused entry to a taping of O'Brien's
show.
"Is this the way you treat your most dangerous fans??? ... You owe me
big time pal," the note said.
The Archdiocese of Boston said it placed Ajemian on leave after his
arrest but was making no other comment.