Legal Action Against Stalking
Pop star Sabrina Carpenter has been granted a temporary restraining order against a 31-year-old man, William Applegate, following a series of alarming incidents at her Los Angeles residence. The legal action, filed on May 29, 2026, details a pattern of behavior that authorities have characterized as a dangerous, escalating fixation.
According to court documents, the primary incident occurred on May 23, when Applegate allegedly trespassed onto a neighbor’s property to breach security fencing surrounding Carpenter’s home. The singer reported that the individual approached her front door, physically grabbed the handle, and attempted to force entry. Security personnel intervened, and the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) subsequently arrested Applegate for criminal trespassing.
Despite the initial arrest, the filing claims Applegate returned to the vicinity of the residence on May 24 and May 25. Private security guards for the singer reported observing him loitering in vehicles parked in close proximity to the driveway, at times reclining his seat to avoid detection. These incidents have forced Carpenter, along with her sister and her sister’s partner—who also reside at the property—to seek formal legal protection.
Evidence of Escalating Risk
Detective Peter Doomanis of the LAPD, in a declaration filed alongside the petition, described the suspect’s behavior as indicative of a “disturbing and irrational fixation.” The detective noted that the trajectory of these actions is consistent with documented patterns of stalking that pose a serious and escalating risk to the victim’s safety. Security logs indicate that the behavior may have begun as early as April 20, with the individual progressively moving closer to the residence over several weeks.
Carpenter, in her own declaration, stated that the suspect fabricated claims of a personal relationship, insisting he was expected at the residence. “His delusional insistence that he knows me and was expected by me is indicative of a dangerous, delusional, and irrational fixation on me,” Carpenter wrote. “His pattern of stalking, trespassing, and surveillance has caused me severe and ongoing emotional distress.”
Judicial Response and Future Proceedings
The temporary order requires Applegate to remain at least 100 yards away from Carpenter, her home, her vehicle, and her workplace. A follow-up court hearing is scheduled for June 17 to determine if the order will be made permanent. Additionally, the suspect faces a separate appearance in criminal court on June 18 regarding the initial trespassing arrest.
The case highlights the persistent security challenges faced by high-profile public figures in the digital and physical age. While the District Attorney’s office has not yet filed formal criminal charges beyond the trespassing incident, the granting of the protective order underscores the judiciary’s acknowledgment of the credible and ongoing threat posed to the artist. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the limitations of private security and the necessity of legal intervention when private residential boundaries are repeatedly compromised by fixated individuals.