ROCKVILLE, Conn. — A man has pleaded guilty to a stalking charge involving UConn basketball player Paige Bueckers, after having been accused of persistent harassment. This man, Robert Cole Parmalee, aged 40, had previously announced his intentions to marry Bueckers through social media posts. On Wednesday, a court clerk confirmed that he received a one-year suspended sentence along with three years of probation.

Parmalee was initially confronted with multiple charges, including stalking, breach of peace, and harassment. However, these were later amended to a single count of second-degree stalking. An inquiry was made for comment with his public defender, but no response has been reported yet.

The sequence of events began with Parmalee’s arrest on August 27, when he was found near Bradley International Airport, equipped with an engagement ring and lingerie. He had informed a state trooper that he had just arrived from the Pacific Northwest and was heading to see Bueckers at the university. During this interaction, authorities discovered there was an outstanding arrest warrant for him from Josephine County, Oregon, linked to an incident involving the setting of a home ablaze while roommates and pets were inside.

Before his arrest, Parmalee had been active on platforms like TikTok, sharing various photos and videos of Bueckers, as well as sending erratic emails to UConn officials since June. Initially, these messages did not prompt any legal action, but as time went on, the nature of his comments began to raise concerns for authorities, leading to the eventual criminal charges.