RALEIGH — The parents of a man charged with stalking Gov. Mike Easley say their son needs psychiatric help.
John Heffner, 24, is charged with trespassing and stalking after he was found loitering near the Governor's Mansion around midnight Tuesday.
Capitol Police say Heffner, a former Easley campaign worker, has been asked to leave the grounds of the Executive Mansion before.
Heffner's parents say he is manic depressive and does not always take the medication he needs to control his illness.
"It's scary. You don't know what these folks might do. We have to protect the public," says district attorney Colon Willoughby.
"Based on my understanding of the facts at this moment and my understanding of the law on stalking, I do not think this is a stalking case," says defense attorney Bill Young.
Heffner is also charged with cyber-stalking in New Hanover County. He is being held on a $50,000 bond.
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