Zimbalist Fan Dangerous, 2 Psychiatrists Testify

Two psychiatrists testified Thursday that a fan who sent threatening letters to actress Stephanie Zimbalist had a dangerous and abnormal personality and cannot be helped by medicine or therapy.

Sentencing was postponed for Michael Lawrence Shields, 42, of Plymouth, Mich., said Assistant U.S. Atty. Carol L. Gillam. U.S. District Judge John G. Davies gave permission to the defense to bring in a psychiatrist to refute the testimony of the two psychiatrists.

If Shields accepts that offer, the psychiatrist would testify at a hearing scheduled for Nov. 8., Gillam said.

Shields entered an agreement with prosecutors in August to plead guilty to seven felony counts of mailing threatening communications to the actress. The judge’s approval of the agreement is pending. The testimony of the two psychiatrists is important because a condition of Shield’s plea bargain is that he pursue psychiatric counseling during his probation.