An Oregon man has been charged with stalking and harassing UConn women’s basketball star Paige Bueckers.
Robert Cole Parmalee was arrested by UConn Police on Friday and was held on $100,000 bond after appearing in Connecticut Superior Court in Rockville on Monday, ESPN reported.
Parmalee, 40, was charged with breach of peace, electronic stalking and harassment.
UConn’s communications department became aware of Parmalee in June after they received “rambling” emails, according to ESPN, which cited UConn Police. Parmalee allegedly claimed to be a member of the royal family and wanted to marry a member of the women’s basketball team.
His social media posts often allegedly referenced Bueckers, including a post of a fake wedding invitation and multiple photos of Parmalee with what appears to be a diamond engagement ring, ESPN reported.
According to ESPN, a post made to his TikTok account, depicted as threatening to Bueckers’ friends and family by a UConn Police officer, read:
“And if I cannot live with a woman of my choosing, [Bueckers], then I will choose to die, and I will choose to take all of you that [op]pose me, oppose us, to hell, and return, king…”
Parmalee was also arrested on Aug. 27 by Connecticut State Police after an officer observed him walking near Bradley International Airport in Windsor Locks.
According to WTNH, a UConn police report stated, “During this interaction, Parmelee declared that he had fathered >17K children and was going to see Paige (UCONN WBB Player Paige Bueckers).”
ESPN reported that according to an affidavit on an arrest warrant application, Bueckers told UConn Police on Friday that she was concerned about her safety and the safety of her family and teammates.
Parmalee is due back in court on Oct. 22.
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