Mel Gibson Stalker Sentenced to 3 Years in Prison

(andPOP) - An Idaho drifter, who thought that he had been sent by God to pray with "Passion of the Christ" director Mel Gibson, has been sentenced to three years in prison for stalking yesterday.

Zack Sinclair, 35, was arrested in April 2004 and convicted in March for one felony count of stalking

He wrote a dozen letters to Gibson saying that he wanted to strengthen the actor's faith after the movie was released.

Sinclair then repeatedly showed up at Gibson's Malibu mansion and was given a restraining order. Within a day of it being issued he approached Gibson at a church that he attends.

Gibson, 49, was attending church in September and said that he found Sinclair sitting in his seat.

Sinclair then approached him and within 10 cm of his face he said, "Hi, I'm here to pray with you."

While Gibson said that Zack wasn't visibly threatening, he was concerned about his family's safety.

"My wife was upset and worried. She didn't want to find him in the living room drinking tea."

Gibson said to the Los Angeles court in March, "I realized we were probably dealing with someone fairly deluded."

Sinclair represented himself in court wearing a yellow and blue jumpsuit. He will be sent to a psychiatric treatment facility.

He said nothing yesterday when he was given the maximum sentence under California law.

Gibson testified but was not at the sentencing.