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Man charged with stalking and harassing UConn’s Paige Bueckers
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Man charged with stalking and harassing UConn’s Paige Bueckers

VERNON, Conn. — An Oregon man was ordered held on $100,000 bail after appearing in Connecticut Superior Court in Rockville on Monday to face charges that he stalked and harassed UConn women’s basketball standout Paige Bueckers. He was arrested by UConn police on Friday.

Robert Cole Parmalee, 40, of Grants Pass, Oregon, is charged with disturbing the peace, electronic stalking and harassment. Parmalee is also referred to as Parmelee in various documents and social media accounts.

According to UConn police, officials in UConn’s communications department became aware of Parmalee in June after receiving emails that campus police described as “nonsensical.” According to police, Parmalee’s emails claimed he was a member of the royal family and wanted to marry a member of the women’s basketball team. His social media posts included dozens of references to Bueckers, including a post with a fake wedding invitation and several photos of Parmalee wearing what appeared to be a diamond engagement ring.

Parmalee also made social media posts that portrayed a UConn police officer as a threat to Bueckers’ friends and family. One post on his TikTok account read: “And if I can’t live with a woman of my choosing (Bueckers) then I will choose death and I will choose to take all of you who oppose me, who oppose us, to hell and return, king…”

Parmalee was previously arrested by Connecticut State Police on August 27 after an officer observed him on a highway near Bradley International Airport outside Hartford. According to UConn Police, when Parmalee was apprehended on the highway he told state police he wanted to visit Bueckers.

The arresting officer was notified by dispatch of an outstanding warrant for Parmalee’s arrest in Oregon. Parmalee was arrested and faces extradition to Oregon, but according to a statement from UConn, Oregon plans to seek dismissal of that charge. UConn police executed their warrant Friday at the Hartford Correctional Center.

Before his arrest on August 27, Parmalee posted on social media that he was coming to propose to Bueckers and get her kicked out of UConn.

According to an arrest warrant application affidavit, Parmalee began sending videos to Bueckers, identified as Victim 1, via Instagram in February. According to the affidavit, Bueckers told police she never responded. On Friday, according to the affidavit, Bueckers told UConn police she was concerned for her safety and the safety of her family and teammates.

Bueckers’ attorneys declined to comment. A UConn athletics spokesman said neither Bueckers nor coach Geno Auriemma or the women’s basketball team would comment.

On Monday, protective orders and restraining orders were issued for “PB” in court. If Parmalee is released on bail, Judge Richard Rubino said he would be subjected to “intensive pre-trial supervision” and GPS monitoring.

According to police, Parmalee not only sent emails to UConn, but also contacted representatives from USC, LSU and a sports agent.

His next court date is scheduled for October 22 at Connecticut Superior Court in Rockville.

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