A Los Angeles judge has ordered a man to stay away from pop star Sabrina Carpenter for five years after he attempted to enter her home more than a dozen times. William Applegate, 31, appeared in court on Wednesday and claimed that he and Carpenter were part of a classified military program requiring them to be together for national and global security.
Incident Details
According to Carpenter's petition, Applegate struck a security guard and reached the front door of her Los Angeles home last month by passing through a neighboring property. He returned in the following days, prompting a temporary restraining order on May 29. Applegate admitted to all his appearances, insisting Carpenter wanted him there, but said he would stay away if she told him directly.
Court Proceedings
Applegate, representing himself, delivered his statements coherently while wearing a suit and sitting at the defense table with a laptop. Carpenter was prepared to testify remotely but was not called. Her attorney, Blair Berk, told the judge that Carpenter fears for her safety and that of her family. Berk questioned Applegate only to confirm that social media posts about Carpenter were his.
In his filing opposing the restraining order, Applegate claimed that during Carpenter's Coachella performance in April, she looked at him while singing to communicate. Carpenter described him as a complete stranger she has never met or communicated with and never wants to.
Judge's Ruling
Judge David L. Wasserman took Applegate's assertions seriously and praised the courtroom's decorum. He stated, "I understand that it's your belief that in order to save the world, you and the petitioner must be together. I expect you to obey the order, not what you think is right, not what you think the military commands you." The judge ordered Applegate to stay at least 100 yards from Carpenter, her sister, and her sister's partner, who live with her. Additional restrictions include no communication and no firearm possession.
Criminal Investigation
Applegate remains under criminal investigation, though no charges have been filed yet. Carpenter, 27, rose to fame as a teen on Disney Channel's Girl Meets World before launching a music career. Her breakthrough came with 2022's Emails I Can't Send, and her 2024 album Short n' Sweet produced hits like "Espresso" and "Please Please Please", making her a multiple Grammy winner and a global pop star.
