Shields Gets Decade of Reprieve From Stalker

September 6, 2000 -- A man who prosecutors say spent 15 years sending lewd and threatening letters to Brooke Shields, causing "extreme fear" in the actress, was ordered to stay away from the star for the next decade.

New Jersey accountant Mark Bailey, 42, pleaded no contest to stalking and terrorizing the actress and was sentenced Tuesday to probation and to undergo twice-weekly counseling sessions, and psychological evaluations.

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Maureen Duffy-Lewis told Bailey he could be sent to prison for four years if he violated the terms of his probation, and said her prohibition against contacting Shields included "her family, her household members, employees, employers, or any of her agents."

Shields, 35, who starred on the late NBC comedy Suddenly Susan, was not in court and her publicist could not be reached for comment.

But Los Angeles County Deputy District Attorney Scott Gordon said Shields was kept aware of Bailey's case and was happy with the plea deal because it allowed authorities to supervise him for 10 years.

"She was very cooperative," Gordon said. "Our goal was to get the longest-term protection possible and this gives us 10 years of control. She was involved in every step and we got exactly what we wanted."

Gordon said that Bailey, who has twice before been convicted of felony offenses stemming from his pursuit of Shields, "has mental health issues" that need to be resolved.

Bailey was arrested Jan. 10 when sheriff's deputies saw him pull a gun while staring at his reflection outside a downtown Los Angeles office building, prosecutors said.

In his pocket were two cards addressed to Shields, one in which he threatened to visit her new home and signed off with the salutation "I'm not afraid of you, Mark."

Reuters contributed to this story.