Sabrina Carpenter Stalker Case Dismissed: What Mental Incompetency Ruling Means for Celebrity Safety

Sabrina Carpenter won’t see criminal charges prosecuted against her alleged stalker after a Los Angeles judge ruled William Applegate mentally incompetent to stand trial on Tuesday. Applegate spent a month surveilling Carpenter’s home in May 2026 before attempting to forcibly enter her front door—an incident that left her terrified. Eight misdemeanor charges, including stalking, trespassing, battery, and disorderly conduct, have been dismissed as a result of the judge’s ruling. The reason: Applegate suffered from severe delusional thinking, claiming he and Carpenter were part of the same“classified military-government program.”A person that disconnected from reality cannot legally stand trial.

While criminal prosecution has ended, the case isn’t over for Carpenter. Applegate remains subject to a five-year restraining order that keeps him at least 100 yards from her home, vehicle, and workplaces through 2031. In her court declaration, Carpenter detailed the psychological impact of being stalked by a complete stranger and the“significant and ongoing fear”his actions caused her and those living in her home. This case mirrors similar stalking incidents involving Taylor Swift and Lindsey Buckingham, illustrating a troubling trend in celebrity safety.

The dismissal raises important questions about how the justice system handles cases where criminal responsibility intersects with severe mental illness. Social media has amplified the problem significantly—fans can now locate celebrities and contact them directly in ways that weren’t possible a decade ago. For people with untreated mental illness, that access can turn obsession into danger. What do you think should happen when someone with a genuine mental health crisis poses a threat to others?