Erin Andrews was at Federal court hearing in Los Angeles today where Michael David Barrett pleaded guilty to stalking her across three state lines. Federal prosecutors recommended that Barrett be given 27 months in prison.
Andrews attorney Marshall Grossman said he will push for more jail time, which will be determined on Feb. 22. Grossman also said he thought the FBI investigation into Barrett was still ongoing and that Barrett had secretly videotaped “a dozen other women.”
Andrews talked to the media after the hearing. Here’s excerpts of some of her comments taken from a live TMZ.com feed:
“I wanted to go right in and get it over with. To see him (Barrett) face-to-face. The first couple minutes were very difficult. I lost it. My Dad was trying to help me keep it together. I looked at him a few times to see what his reaction was. Now that I’ve been thrust into this role, I want to the judge to see me and how emotional I was.
“I believe he should be classified as a sexual predator. I want him to stay in jail as long as possible. He’s a threat to all women. I dont want somone else’s career to be ruined like this. It wont come off the internet. Still to this day every time I check into a hotel room, I’m constantly looking around to see if he’s there. I wanted (today) to give the judge a sense of what he’s done.”
“People bring it up. They think it’s funny. I’m embarrassed and humiliated. I’m still scared to stay in hotels and my house.”
Andrews attorney Marshall Grossman:
“We are not supportive of that plea agreement. Erin will make her feelings known about that at the time of sentencing. There were well over a dozen other women who were surreptitiously stalked and videotaped by Barrett. I have a strong sense the government’s investigation is still ongoing.“
It will be interesting to soon learn the implications of the FBI’s further investigation into Barrett’s activities.’
UPDATE: TMZ.com has these comments from Andrews directed to the judge at the hearing:
“I have nightmares about the sexual predator. I hope he never sees the light of day so no one else has to deal with this. He put the videos on the Internet for the world to see. I have been humiliated and embarrassed. … (She’s been subjected to) crude comments … and fans [at sporting events] say obscene things to me.”
7:40 pm on December 15th, 2009
once again… ah never mind! now that she put this way…I feel bad!….somewhat?
7:50 pm on December 15th, 2009
Honestly, I do feel for her. She’s not some attention whore like Tiger’s 32,445 (may or not be correct) mistresses. She understands that she has a degree of celebrity status, and her privacy isn’t 100% guaranteed, but what that scumbag did was disgusting and she has every right to feel like she does. I hope some “sexual predator” meets up with him in prison, as I am sure she has a few fans there who can’t wait.
8:31 pm on December 15th, 2009
I do wonder why he isn’t being charged as a sexual offender?
8:53 pm on December 15th, 2009
I understand that Erin is very hurt by this but the longer she shows that it affects her the longer fans are going to try and test her will. She has showed that she’s a strong person to this point but if she keeps publicly crying about it, fans are going to keep it up with the jokes.
9:11 pm on December 15th, 2009
i wish i had a stalker WTF!!!
9:42 pm on December 15th, 2009
The longer she keeps trying to put this guy away and get revenge, the longer this case will affect her ability to have “normal” friendships with men, and may affect her to the point she will lose her job. She clearly has a gripe with what he did but she is talking like this I believe so she can blame him for everything that happens to her from NOW ON.
She appears to now be looking for some excuse to have a breakdown instead of getting counseling and TRYING TO MOVE FORWARD WITH HER LIFE. She just doesn’t want to go back to her job, it appears to me, but listen to her dad about HOW THAT GUY RUINED HER LIFE. She is not mentally healthy right now, and INSTEAD OF NOT LETTING HIM GET THE BETTER OF HER…SHE IS ADMITTING HE HAS WON THE BATTLE OVER HER LIFE AND CAREER. So sad she did not try to overcome this incident in the way Rhianna has. Rhianna has shown courage and the ability to move forward, I admire Rhianna because she is SO much better off getting over HER INCIDENT than Erin has been.
11:01 pm on December 15th, 2009
Yes John, you are absolutely correct. Everyone handles a traumatic incident in their lives in the exact same manner. I assume you’re talking about Rhianna who went on 20/20 and talked about the incident openly, correct?
You seem to think that EA is attempting to draw more attention to herself because of this? She talked to Oprah about it…and addressed a courtroom. That’s all. I’m not sure what else you want from her.
11:38 pm on December 15th, 2009
Anyone hear about the new film Sexual Alien vs Sexual Predator…
9:18 am on December 16th, 2009
Dramahhh!! I know it’s creepy and all and they guy is getting what’s coming to him. But anyone’s who’s been even a victim of non violent burglaries,etc, goes through similar emotions. Get over it. The rest of us have to. Celebrities either deserve special treatment (Erin)or deserve to be treated as normal (Tiger), depending on the situation and whatever suits them at any given time.
11:26 am on December 16th, 2009
Why does she keep talking to the media about it? When she says “its still on the internet” there are probably 10,000 Google searches within ten minutes.
1:55 pm on December 16th, 2009
How has this ruined her career?
3:54 pm on December 16th, 2009
She says that she hopes the guy never sees the light of day. Clearly the guy is a scumbag that deserves substantial jail time, but last time I checked, actual rapists and child molesters, unfortunately, “see the light of day”.
11:24 pm on December 16th, 2009
I’m with Ashdex, Eddie, and Kevin on this one. Drama Queen. I always thought she was married. With this behavior I have a feeling I know why she isn’t. Reminds me of the poster ‘No matter how hot she is there’s some guy who’s sick of her sh*t.’ Guy should do a few yrs in a minimum security prison.
7:49 pm on December 17th, 2009
I hate coming across as crass, but here goes….
Deep Breath….
Along the same lines as “look how she was dressed, she was asking for it”….
EA, you are pushing (or past) 30. You don’t have to keep dressing like one of Lohan’s entourage. You can dial it back from presenting yourself Paris Hilton-ish. There are plenty of very good female broadcasters and television personalities who don’t dress like they are trying to become Tiger’s #15 (have we passed 15 yet?). Cut the hair -or pull out the extensions - lower the hemline, less v necks, less SKINTIGHT everything, and make-up less like a rodeo clown.
You are a beautiful woman. You don’t need to beat our gender over the head with it. You can tone down the Florida Gator Dance Team look and become a professional.
There are plenty of women prettier than you, but are they stalked and droned over and over upon by D**dspin? Not really.
Act professional and we will act like gentlemen.
That’s all I got folks - I have a boat to catch with my college buddy Eldri….whoops…I mean I have somewhere to go.
8:34 pm on January 3rd, 2010
I find it ridiculous how many people do not understand the impact this has on Erin Andrews. Being an aspiring female sports reporter, I can get a sense of what and how she feels. This is not something that can be easily forgotten. When you are trying to have a respectable career in sports, ESPECIALLY when you are female, is extremely hard to do, let alone when something like this happens. This is devastating to her career because people will no longer look at her as a good reporter, but instead at what has happened. She will always be the reporter that was taped nude. It will be even harder for her now to be taken seriously. This does not only affect Erin, but all women in this field. This is a form of sexual abuse, and people who go through this can be messed up for their whole lives. I personally think she’s working through it as best she can. I can’t imagine always worrying about if someone is there or watching me. It would drive me crazy. The reason why she’s been talking about this or complaining about it to the media is because she wants justice and she wants to make she there is higher security and that this will not happened to someone else.
11:32 am on November 9th, 2010
Well I dont feel sorry for her at all. She invaded the privacy of perhaps thousands of men getting dressed. Now when her privacy is invaded she is a victim. I wonder how all the athelets she use to ogle in the locker room feel. I am sure many feel violated? Female sports reporters are just voyeur predators. It’s not right to tape someone in a hotel or a locker room. Now the shoe is on the other foot!