David Becker, Getty Images
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."
Click Through Our "Celebrity Stalker Nightmares" Gallery
- Selena Gomez
- Madonna
- Usher
- George Michael
- Sheryl Crow
- Kylie Minogue
- Bryan Adams
- Musicians You Never Knew Were Adopted
- Faith Hill
- Eric Clapton
- Sarah McLachlan
- Debbie Harry
- Jamie Foxx
- Willie Nelson
- Darryl "DMC" McDaniels of Run-D.M.C.
- Rachel Crow
- Can You Believe They're the Same Age?
- Lindsay Lohan and Dianna Agron
- Adele and Hayley Williams
- Florence Welch and Lea Michele
- Lady Gaga and Mary-Kate Olsen
- Fantasia Barrino and Avril Lavigne
- Miranda Cosgrove and Taylor Momsen
- T-Pain and Carly Rae Jepsen
- Celebrities Who Married Young - Barely Legal Brides!
- LeAnn Rimes Was a Bride at 19
- Avril Lavigne Was 21 When She Walked Down the Aisle
- Hilary Duff Said 'I Do' at 22
- Kevin Jonas Proposed at 21, Married at 22
- For Hanson, Marrying Young Runs in the Family
- Kate Hudson Married at 21 After Dating Just a Year
- Solange Got Married in a Hurry
- Celebrity Photobombs
- Peek-a-Boo Sheryl Crow, We See You! (Even if Justin Bieber Didn't.)
- This Guy Is SO Not Impressed by Rihanna and Katy Perry.
- Kelly Osbourne and Neon Hitch's Photo-Op Is Crashed by an Over-Enthused Lurker.
- Demi Lovato's Little Sis Madison Perhaps Isn't the Biggest Britney Fan.
- Paul Stanley, Sir Elton John and Erin Sutton Get Creeped on.
- Katy Perry Is Unaware That Glen Campbell Is Having a Psychic Moment Behind Her.
- Diddy REALLY Wanted to Be in This Shot With Muhammad Ali and Will Smith.
- This Passerby Can't Resist Sharing the Spotlight With Rihanna.
- Kim Kardashian and Nicki Minaj Try to Box Out a Fellow BET Awards Attendee.
- Teen Idols Who Lived a Cursed Life
- Andy Gibb
- Aaron Carter
- Bobby Brown
- Leif Garrett
- Danny Bonaduce
- PJ Proby
Kellie Pickler Advances to 'Dancing With the Stars' Finals
Taylor Swift Admired George Jones' Passion for Performing
Rock the Bells 2013 Lineup Includes Ol' Dirty Bastard & Eazy-E Holograms
Jennifer Hudson Performs 'Inseparable' With 'American Idol' Winner Candice Glover
Carrie Underwood Says She's 'Queen of Awkward' in Marie Claire Interview
Man Arrested After Midnight Swim Near Taylor Swift's Rhode Island Home
Nine Inch Nails Lose Bassist Eric Avery
Tim McGraw Stops Atlanta Show to Help Ailing Fan
Lil Wayne's Emmett Till Lyric Was Never Meant for Public Consumption
Kree Harrison Debuts Potential Single 'All Cried Out' During 'American Idol' Finale