A man charged with stalking Hollywood star Jennifer Aniston and crashing his car into the front gate of her Los Angeles home has been deemed mentally incompetent to stand trial—though he has requested a second psychiatric evaluation.
Jimmy Wayne Carwyle, 48, of Mississippi, appeared at a Hollywood courthouse Thursday, which handles mental health cases. He remained in custody behind a glass partition, wearing a heavy blue smock typically issued for suicide prevention. His appearance included a long grey beard, and he spoke through his court-appointed attorney.
Deputy Public Defender Robert Krauss informed the court that a county psychiatrist had found Carwyle unfit to stand trial. However, Carwyle exercised his legal right to seek a second opinion from an independent psychiatrist.
Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Maria Cavaluzzi granted the request and scheduled a follow-up hearing for May 29.
Outside the courtroom, Krauss declined to comment, as did the prosecuting attorney and a legal representative attending on behalf of Jennifer Aniston.
Carwyle is accused of harassing the Friends actress over a two-year period with an onslaught of voicemails, emails, and social media messages. On May 5, prosecutors say he drove his Chrysler PT Cruiser through the gate of Aniston’s Bel Air residence, causing significant damage.
He pleaded not guilty to felony stalking and vandalism during his initial court appearance. At that time, the judge halted criminal proceedings pending a psychological assessment.
Carwyle remains in custody and is under a court order to stay away from Aniston. Authorities confirmed she was home during the incident, but Carwyle never made direct contact with her. A security guard intercepted him at the driveway until law enforcement arrived. No injuries were reported.
The charges against Carwyle include an aggravating circumstance related to the threat of serious bodily harm. If ultimately convicted, he could face up to three years in prison. However, if he is found incompetent in the upcoming evaluation, he may be committed to a state mental hospital for treatment and continued assessment.
Prosecutors have not taken a public stance on Carwyle’s competency and did not comment during Thursday’s hearing.
