Ronstadt Fan: Charges Dropped

By Stef Mcdonald

10/29/1997 at 12:00 AM EST

Stalking charges against Bernard Oritz, 56, were dropped in favor of a restraining order that bars him from making any contact with Linda Ronstadt or members of her family, reports the Associated Press. Oritz, who suffers from schizophrenia, was taken into custody in Arizona in May after allegedly stalking the singer. He began writing her letters in 1997 and was placed on three years' probation after he plead guilty in 1998 of attempted stalking.