Woman Who Barricaded Herself at 'American Pie' Actor's Home to Stand Trial

A woman who allegedly armed herself with a knife and barricaded herself inside the Hollywood Hills home of "American Pie'' actor Eddie Kaye Thomas for more than five hours was ordered today to stand trial.

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Michael E. Pastor denied defense attorney Emmanuel Bart-Plange's motion to reduce a felony vandalism charge against Roxanna Bear, 32, to a misdemeanor count.

The judge also found sufficient evidence to require Bear -- also known as Sun Warner -- to proceed to trial on one misdemeanor count each of exhibiting a deadly weapon, interference with a wireless communication device, false report of a criminal offense and resisting, obstructing or delaying a peace officer.

The charges stem from an April 17 standoff at the home of the actor, who is identified in the criminal complaint as Edward Kovelsky.

The actor told police he had been drinking before he met the woman outside Mel's Diner and took her home, but she refused to have sex with him, according to Los Angeles police Officer Michael Morris.

He said he eventually asked Bear to leave his home because he had to take a friend to the airport, but she refused, according to Morris.

The actor told police the woman got a knife from the kitchen while he was speaking on the phone to the friend, then threw his cell phone as he tried to call police, the officer testified. He said he used his home phone to call police as she tried to pull the cord, according to the officer.

"He said that she then started to damage his property in the living room,'' Morris said, noting that the actor said she broke some vases and threw a guitar before he left the home to let police in through a gate.

Among the items described as being damaged included his cellular phone, a "name-brand'' shirt, some sheets that were "all cut'' and a guitar that was written on with a permanent marker, according to the officer, noting that Thomas estimated the damage at $3,725.

The actor also estimated damage at about $19,000 stemming from the SWAT team's response to his call, in which flash-bang grenades and tear gas were used, according to the officer.

Morris -- who said he has interviewed Bear -- said he recognized Bear's voice as the woman who called 911 that afternoon and told a dispatcher that she had been kidnapped and was being held against her will.

Police had used a patrol car's public announcement system for about an hour to try to convince the woman to come out of the house before SWAT officers arrived, according to Los Angeles police Officer Kenneth Curtis, who said he saw her through a window.

Police were outside the house for about five hours and 20 minutes, with a SWAT officer reporting that she crawled out of the home after tear gas was fired inside, Curtis testified.

Bear has remained jailed. She was ordered at her first court appearance April 19 to stay away from the actor and his home.

- City News Service