Fan Obsessed With Skater Sentenced to Mental Hospital

An obsessed fan was sentenced Monday to 37 months in a psychiatric facility for sending nude photos of himself and threatening letters to Olympic skating star Katarina Witt.

Harry Veltman III, 47, of Westminster also was ordered to serve three years’ probation, to avoid contacting Witt and to participate in a counseling program after his release.

In sentencing Veltman, U.S. District Judge Gary Taylor said he felt compelled to take into account the defendant’s psychiatric problems.

Officials have said Veltman, who lives with his mother, was diagnosed as a paranoid schizophrenic at County-USC Medical Center in Los Angeles. A U.S. magistrate found Veltman competent to stand trial.

Veltman, who acted as his own attorney during the trial, was convicted March 12 on four counts of sending obscene mail and two counts of sending threatening mail to the Altendorf, Germany, home of Witt, 26.