WILMINGTON, Del. (AP) -- A man accused of stalking a Philadelphia television
anchorman and leading police on a high-speed chase was given five years'
probation and told to take medication to control his psychiatric problems
or face jail time.
Preston H. Lit, 48, was in court for sentencing on a reckless endangerment
charge for leading police on a 120-mile chase last March that began in
Atlantic City, N.J., and ended in Wilmington. After his arrest, Lit told
reporters he led police on the chase because he loved Steve Levy, a popular
anchor at WCAU-TV in Philadelphia.
During the Oct. 18 hearing, Judge Charles H. Toliver IV placed Lit on probation
with the condition that he continue his treatment and take his prescribed
medication. Arrangements have been made for Lit to be admitted to Norristown,
Pa. State Hospital for treatment, said defense attorney David J. Facciolo.
Toliver also ordered Lit to have no contact with the WCAU television or
radio stations or any of the company's employees. Lit still faces related
charges in New Jersey, but Facciolo said prosecutors there are trying to
work out a similar arrangement that will move Lit to the Norristown psychiatric
hospital for in-patient treatment.
Lit's fixation with the TV anchor reportedly began about three years ago,
when he began trailing Levy on assignments and leaving messages and packages
at the station's suburban Philadelphia studio.
Lit had been institutionalized for mental illness and jailed previously
in Florida after leading police there on a high-speed pursuit.