Woman Accused of Stalking John Cusack

By City News Service

A woman accused of repeatedly trying to contact actor John Cusack was charged Thursday with stalking.

Elizabeth Diane Pahlke, 45, pleaded not guilty in Van Nuys Superior Court to the charge alleging that she stalked Cusack between Oct. 1, 2010, and Tuesday, when she was arrested by deputies from the Lost Hills/Malibu sheriff's station.

Pahlke was already subject to a restraining order recently obtained by Cusack, who she's allegedly tried to contact through text messages and Twitter for nearly three years, according to the criminal complaint.

Pahlke is accused of flying from Illinois to Los Angeles, going to Cusack's home and following him to a restaurant, where she approached him, according to Shiara Davila-Morales of the District Attorney's Office.

Along with stalking, Pahlke is charged with one count of attempted first-degree burglary with a person present. The break-in attempt allegedly occurred the same day she was arrested at Cusack's Malibu area home.

Pahlke was ordered to remain jailed in lieu of $200,000 bail while awaiting her next court appearance Sept. 16.

Nearly five years ago, another woman admitted stalking Cusack, who is known for his roles in such movies as "Say Anything," "2012," "Being John Malkovich," "Must Love Dogs" and "Serendipity."

Emily Leatherman, then 34, was sentenced in October 2008 in Van Nuys Superior Court to time already served in county jail and five years formal probation, along with psychiatric counseling.

A "stay-away order" also was issued barring Leatherman from contacting the actor, who had previously obtained a restraining order against her.