A man accused of stalking actress Jennifer Garner is a former Lancaster County resident and Millersville University student, documents show.

Garner, the star of the TV show "Alias" and films including "Juno" and "13 going on 30," was going to court in Los Angeles today seeking a permanent restraining order against Steven R. Burky.

The actress, who is married to actor Ben Affleck, said the 36-year-old Burky has been stalking her for about six years, sending her letters, following her around the country and even going to her Los Angeles home last month, according to court documents.

Some of Burky's letters contained a return address in Reading.

Burky apparently lived in Lancaster from 1998 to 2000. Cross-reference directories show that a man with the same first name, middle initial and last name lived at addresses on Welsh Drive and Foal Court during that time period.

Burky also attended Millersville University, during the fall semester of 1990, studying computer science, university records show.

Burky appears to have relatives who live in Lancaster County. None could be reached for comment today.

Burky has been harassing Garner since 2002, the actress said in a court document.

"This past year, Mr. Burky has resurfaced and his obsessive and harassing behavior has escalated to the point of becoming dangerous and threatening," she stated in the document. "He has now shown up at my private residence and has repeatedly expressed his belief that God has sent him a vision of me being 'persecuted' in some manner that might result in my death."

Last month, Burky, dressed in what was described as a religious-type garment, went to Garner's home and rang the gate intercom, telling her nanny he needed to deliver a message in person to Garner, according to a court document.

Police were called and Burky told them he had visions that Garner was in danger and would be forced to participate in a terrorist plot.

Garner said she fears for her personal safety and that of her husband and daughter. She also said she is pregnant and fears for her second child when it is born.

The visit was the culmination of years of unusual behavior, letters and packages directed by Burky to Garner, according to court documents. He traveled to Ohio, California, New York and Boston to see her at times, the documents state.

Burky started posting comments about Garner on the Internet in 2002, calling himself a "love crazed idiot." In October of that year, he traveled to an Ohio university, where Garner was attending an event, a document states.

Posing as a student, he allegedly approached her, told her he loved her, gave her a rose and then walked around the building asking people if they knew Garner's schedule.

Three days later, he traveled to California and, dressed as a punk rocker with blue hair, stood in line to get Garner's autograph, according to the court document. At that time, he allegedly apologized to her for writing his phone number on the back of the flower card he gave her three days earlier, saying, "That was very forward of me."

Burky then allegedly began mailing Garner letters, including a package of 12 birthday cards, "for every year apart we have spent."

He also sent her six photos of himself, the court document states.

In 2003, his letters became increasingly delusional, noting, "I would speak to the cameras I know are around me and with me, as an idol, to speak to you, in hopes that somehow my words or my love would get to you."

Earlier this year, he sent her a long letter filled with religious references and Bible verses, saying he had a prophetic vision of Garner surrounded by a mob in public and did not know "whether death was the outcome."

Based on the letters, Garner's security consultant said in a court document that Burky "represents a clear threat to Ms. Garner's life."

In a New York Daily News story published Wednesday, Burky's aunt, Maxine Burky, said that Burky has a mental disorder and is supposed to be taking medication.

She said Burky's family sympathizes with Garner.

She said she did not think Burky would harm the actress.

"It's been an infatuation for many years," she said. "He's not dangerous."


Staff writer Cindy Stauffer can be reached at cstauffer@LNPnews.com or 481-