Ryan Seacrest's stalker, Chidi Uzomah, just pled no contest to felony stalking ... TMZ has learned.
Uzomah, who repeatedly hunted the "American Idol" host down and came close to him while armed with a knife, agreed in court to submit to a 3-month psychiatric evaluation at Chino State Prison in California.
As for prison time, we're told he could serve up to two years behind bars. And it's likely the judge will issue a criminal stay away order to keep Uzomah clear of Ryan Seacrest for the next 10 years.
People who worked on the case say the L.A. County Deputy D.A. assigned to the case, Wendy Segall, drove a hard bargain.
Ryan Seacrest's stalker, Chidi Uzomah, just pled no contest to felony stalking ... TMZ has learned.
Uzomah, who repeatedly hunted the "American Idol" host down and came close to him while armed with a knife, agreed in court to submit to a 3-month psychiatric evaluation at Chino State Prison in California.
As for prison time, we're told he could serve up to 2 years behind bars. And it's likely the judge will issue a criminal stay away order to keep Uzomah clear of Ryan Seacrest for the next 10 years.
People who worked on the case say the L.A. County Deputy D.A. assigned to the case, Wendy Segall, drove a hard bargain.
Angela Martin -- the "American Idol" contestant whose "A.I." dreams have been derailed twice by personal turmoil -- just appeared on the Ryan Seacrest radio show to make another plea to find her missing mother.
Martin's story is heartbreaking: She's made it to Hollywood twice before auditioning again this season -- but both times, she left the show early. Her father was murdered during her "Idol" run in 2007 and in 2008 she had to quit because of a court appearance.
Now Angela has made it to Hollywood again -- but this accomplishment has been marred by the mysterious disappearance of her mother Viola Brown Martin -- who went missing the day after a family Christmas dinner back in December.
Ryan Seacrest'sradio show came to a screeching halt last night after he asked "Twilight" star Robert Pattinson the most controversial, hard-nosed question in the history of questions ... what's the deal with you and Kristen Stewart?
As soon as Ryan asked the question -- apparently forbidden by the Twilight powers that be -- Pattinson's cold-blooded handler flipped out and pulled Robert right outta the chair.
Robert remained charming as he got up and left ... but the bottom line -- he still left.
Ryan Seacrest's lawyer was in court today to ask for a permanent restraining order against Chidi Uzomah -- the man who has allegedly been stalking her client.
Attorney Blair Berk went solo in court today -- Ryan wasn't there -- and here's what went down:
UPDATE 9:14 AM PT: The judge just granted the restraining order, ordering Uzomah to stay 100 yards away from Seacrest for three years. He was also ordered not to have contact -- direct or indirect -- with Ryan.
Chidi remains in custody -- he's been charged with felony stalking and two misdemeanor counts of disobeying a prior court order.
UPDATE 9:12 AM PT: The judge has read Ryan's declaration and feels Chidi Uzomah's actions were fairly frightening.
UPDATE 8:58 AM PT: It begins! The judge is on the bench.
Ryan Seacrest's alleged stalker -- Chidi Uzomah -- sent a Southern California college campus into panic last year when he walked around in camouflage holding what appeared to be an M16 rifle.
We've learned Uzomah had just finished training with the ROTC at Cal State Dominguez Hills on February 21, 2008. Instead of taking his camouflage off and putting his dummy rifle in a bag, he decide to parade around campus in full regalia, rifle in hand.
It set off a panic for nearly a half hour. Uzomah was not arrested. We're told several months after the incident, Uzomah was sent packing from ROTC -- we do not know what triggered the dismissal.
Uzomah -- who was twice caught with a knife in his pocket recently looking for Ryan Seacrest -- has been charged with felony stalking and several other crimes. He's currently in custody.
Just because Ryan Seacrest's alleged stalker is 6'4" tall, an infantryman in the Army Reserves and known to attack bodyguards at will ... that doesn't mean the guy isn't scared of someone stealing his car.
TMZ obtained photos of Chidi Uzomah's car -- which he left behind at the E! building last week after he got arrested. The car was safe, though, because it was left under the watchful eye of the greatest anti-theft device ever conceived: The Club.
Also inside the car: A Thomas Guide opened up to a map of West Hollywood, clothes, a towel and a backpack full of books.
Ryan Seacrest's alleged stalker had some ominous words about his trip to E! last week.
Law enforcement sources tell us, during their interview with Chidi Uzomah, he told cops, "I felt like I was meant to see someone."
One law enforcement source says Uzomah shows signs of early schizophrenia, which often emerges in people around Uzomah's age -- 25.
Uzomah -- who showed up with a knife at the E! building where Ryan was doing his radio show -- is currently being held on $150,000 bail on felony stalking and other charges.
Ryan Seacrest'salleged stalker Chidi Uzomah just pled not guilty to one felony stalking charge and two misdemeanor charges of disobeying a court order.
The judge granted a protective order for Seacrest -- which states Uzomah must stay 500 yards away from the "American Idol" host. His bail was set at $150,000.
Uzomah is accused of stalking Seacrest between September 15 and October 30 -- the day he was arrested at the E! building where Ryan does a daily radio and TV show.
The L.A. County District Attorney's office has charged Chidi Uzomah with felony stalking.
The 25-year-old was also charged with two misdemeanor counts of disobeying a prior court order -- after assaulting a guard at Children's Hospital in Orange County and ordered to stay clear of Ryan Seacrest.
Uzomah is accused of stalking Seacrest between September 15 and October 30 -- the day he was arrested at the E! building where Ryan does a daily radio and TV show.
If convicted, he faces a maximum of four years in state prison.
The U.S. Army is issuing an official apology to Ryan Seacrest -- after learning his alleged stalker is one of their own.
TMZ just spoke with Lt. Col. Nathan Banks, an Army spokesperson, who told us: "We apologize to Ryan Seacrest. Pending the outcome of the local investigation, the Army will decide what further action to take. We take all matters of our personnel seriously."
As TMZ first reported, Chidi Uzomah is currently a member of the U.S. Army reserves -- and is assigned to a special forces unit. Translation -- he's a very dangerous man.
UPDATE: TMZ just spoke with Lt. Col. Nathan Banks, an Army spokesperson, who told us: "We apologize to Ryan Seacrest. Pending the outcome of the local investigation, the Army will decide what further action to take. We take all matters of our personnel seriously." Ryan Seacrest's alleged stalker is scarier than first thought -- we've learned he has serious military training.
Chidi Uzomah, Jr. is currently in the Army Reserves in Upland, California. He was trained as a front line soldier and assigned to the 426th Civil Affairs Battalion -- a part of the Army special forces, which is attached to the Green Berets.
Before Uzomah's gig in the 426th, he served in the California Army National Guard from April 2005 through April 2009. He was honorably discharged and then transferred to the Army Reserves.
Uzomah was an ROTC Cadet at Cal State Dominguez Hills.
We spoke with a honcho at the ROTC today, who said, "I am painfully aware of our connection with Uzomah." He would not elaborate.