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Star’s encounter with stalker described

By WTOP Staff

LINDA DEUTSCH
AP Special Correspondent

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Sandra Bullock’s recent encounter with a stalker in her home reads like a scene from a scary movie in newly released documents, painting a portrait of an obsessed fan who described himself as her “husband.”

Joshua James Corbett, 39, was later found to have a stash of illegal weapons including two fully automatic rifles and a machine gun at his home. But he was unarmed when he broke into Bullock’s home, affidavits in the case said.

Investigators said the sleeping actress was awakened at 6:30 a.m. on June 8 by banging noises, opened her bedroom door and saw a dark-clad stranger moving toward the stairs.

Bullock, who has portrayed brave, strong women on screen, took quick action, locking the door and summoning police.

“Sandy, I’m sorry!” the man shouted as he was being taken away. “Don’t press charges.”

Police determined Corbett had scaled the gates of the home and forced open a locked sunroom glass door. He remains in jail awaiting trial and could face more than seven years in prison.

The incident shocked Hollywood and resurrected memories of other stars plagued by stalkers. Actress Rebecca Schaeffer was slain by a stalker in the 1980s and her death led to tightened laws to make stalking a crime and keep stalkers away from their prey.

Madonna, Steven Spielberg, Ryan Seacrest, Paris Hilton and others became stalking victims but were not harmed.

The writings of Corbett, detailed in a search warrant affidavit filed by the Bullock case investigators, revealed the depth of his obsession. Many stalkers have been ordered to undergo psychological counseling as part of their sentences.

The newly released affidavits gave the first detailed account of what happened inside Bullock’s home.

Corbett had a letter he had written to the actress the day before the break-in professing his love for her and insisting he was her husband and the father of her son.

“I love you. You are very special to me and without you in my life there is only misery,” said the letter….You are my girl!…You are my wife by law, the law of God and you belong to me and me to you.”

Corbett revealed he had been watching Bullock’s movements, saw her return home from an American Film Institute gala on June 5 and wished he could follow her inside the gates to her house. “I will be waiting by those gates when you decide to open them to me…,” he wrote.

At another point, he told the actress, “You are so hot and intelligent, lissome and taught (sic).”

The letter was signed, “Your husband, Joshua James Corbett.”

The police affidavit said Bullock arrived home about 1 a.m., showered and went to bed. She was awakened early the next morning by banging noises she thought were coming from her third-floor workout room. The sound then shifted to the living room and she became concerned for her safety, the affidavit said.

Police said Corbett was walking down the stairs when they arrived. He acknowledged breaking in, they said, and told them he was trying to alert Bullock that her security was not impervious to intruders. He said he didn’t want to upset Bullock and thought she would not be home.

The question of why Corbett was stockpiling arms at his home and at an airport hangar remained unanswered.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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