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Madonna Stalker Trial: Fate of Robert Linhart Decided by Jury

Posted on Nov 12th 2012 12:00PM by Contessa Gayles

madonna stalker convicted David Becker, Getty Images

Being the international superstar that she is, Madonna has had her fair share of stalker nightmares over the years. Thankfully, it appears that she has one less fanatic to worry about, as Robert Linhart faces up to a year in jail after being convicted of resisting arrest while outside Madonna's New York City property back in 2010.

E! reports the retired firefighter was found guilty last Friday (Nov. 9), after spray painting creepy messages to Madonna on the sidewalk of her Manhattan home, including "I Need You" and "If it's yes, my dream will come true. If it's no, I will go. XXX."

While he was found guilty of resisting arrest, the jurors did not brand Linhart a stalker and concluded was simply following Madonna's "Express Yourself" mantra while blasting music and painting messages to his icon outside of her Upper West Side home. "Linhart had every right to paint his signs peaceably ... he has the right to free speech," one juror told the New York Post, "But no right to resist arrest."

Linhart previously commented on his right to express himself under the Twitter handle "@madonna_stalker." "Funny, I just heard Madonna say that she supports freedom of speach [sic]. I think that she should inform her security of her beliefs. XXX," he wrote back in August.

Linhart's lawyer said he would appeal the conviction, as his client was unable to show his doctor's testimony indicating that he was suffering from a torn rotator cuff in his shoulder at the time of the arrest. The injury apparently prohibited Linhart from moving his arms in order to be cuffed in compliance with the arrest.

Despite the conviction, Linhart maintained a sense of humor. When asked by reporters if he planned on showing up to Madonna's MDNA concerts in New York this week (Nov. 12, Nov. 13), he replied, "If she invites me."

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