Man charged with stalking Jennifer Garner, Ben Affleck

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A Pennsylvania man arrested outside the school attended by one of Jennifer Garner’s and Ben Affleck’s daughters has been charged with felony stalking and violating a restraining order protecting the family.

Steven Burky, 37, was arrested in Santa Monica on Monday at the nursery school where Violet Affleck, one of the couple’s two daughters, is enrolled. Garner, Affleck and Violet are covered by a 2008 restraining order against Burky that instructs him to stay 100 yards away from the family’s cars, homes and schools.

Burky once told Garner that ‘God had sent him a vision of her being persecuted in a manner that may result in her death,’ according to court papers from 2008.

He pleaded not guilty at an arraignment Thursday afternoon and was ordered held in lieu of $300,000 bail, according to a spokeswoman for the district attorney’s office. A judge also ordered him to stay 500 feet away from Garner, Affleck and their family if released.

The restraining order was granted in November 2008 after Garner told the court she believed Burky posed a threat to her and her family. She said at the time that he had been harassing her since 2002.

Burky was charged with two counts of felony stalking and two counts of violating a court order, a misdemeanor. A criminal complaint filed in the case alleges Burky harassed Affleck and Garner and made credible threats that place both “in reasonable fear” for the safety of their family.

A phone message left by the Associated Press at a Pennsylvania number listed for Burky was not returned Thursday.

-- Christie D’Zurilla

Left photo: Jennifer Garner at a charity awards dinner in December. Credit: Noel Vasquez / Getty Images

Right photo: Steven Burky’s Dec. 14 booking photo in Santa Monica. Credit: Santa Monica Police Department / Associated Press

The Ministry has more about celebrities getting their day (or days) in court. Recent names intersecting with the legal system include Buju Banton, John Stamos, Pauly Shore, Lil Wayne and other Grammy winners, and Roman Polanski.

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