Prosecutors have now officially charged David Merck for violently attacking “NCIS” actress Pauley Perrette outside her home in the Hollywood Hills on Thursday.
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During his arraignment on Monday, he pleaded not guilty.
Merck allegedly grabbed the 46-year-old actress, who plays forensic scientist Abby Sciuto on the CBS hit, punched her repeatedly and threatened to kill her before he ran off.
Perrette took to social media later that night, after the attack, and posted about the incident with graphic detail.
“On my street, I was jumped by a very psychotic homeless man”, Perrette wrote. During what may have seemed to be a hopelessly terrifying moment in time, Perette somehow managed to keep her wits about her. She even went so far as engaging the man in conversation, cleverly telling her attacker that, “William is a lovely name, I have a little nephew named William”.
Perrette, who has also appeared in such films as “The Ring” and “Almost Famous” and has performed in a rock band, later drew a sketch of the suspect for police, which helped lead to his arrest, she said. I knew I couldn’t over come him. The actress collapsed on the sidewalk and texted her “friend next door and my church friend cop”.
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Perrette said the man told her to “get the f- out of here”. The Los Angeles District Attorney’s office asked that his bail be set at $60,000 and, if Merk is convicted, he could be sentenced to up to four years in prison.
