Conan O'Brien's Stalker

What is it about late night talk show hosts that brings out the stalkers?

For years, David Letterman was stalked by Margaret Mary Ray.

Ray battled mental illness and led a tortured life before she chose to end it in 1998.

Letterman also was tormented by Kelly A. Frank.

Frank was arrested in 2005 on allegations he was plotting to kidnap Letterman's young son and nanny from his Montana home. However, kidnapping-related charges were eventually dropped, and Frank was sentenced to 10 years for theft for overcharging Letterman for painting work.

Now, Conan O'Brien is dealing with a stalker of his own.

It's not an ill woman or a man with a long rap sheet.

O'Brien's stalker is a priest.

NEW YORK -- A priest has been arrested on charges of stalking late-night talk show host Conan O'Brien by writing him threatening notes on parish letterhead, contacting his parents and showing up at his studio, prosecutors said Wednesday.

The Rev. David Ajemian, a priest in the Archdiocese of Boston, was arrested last week while trying to enter a taping session of NBC's "Late Night with Conan O'Brien" at New York's Rockefeller Plaza, said Barbara Thompson, a spokeswoman for the Manhattan prosecutor's office.

Ajemian referred to himself as "your priest stalker" in one note and complained of not being allowed in to see an earlier taping of the O'Brien show, court papers say.

"Is this the way you treat your most dangerous fans?" the note said.

The letters and e-mails, which started coming in September 2006, continued even after Ajemian was asked to stop and were "intended to cause annoyance and alarm," Thompson said.

"I want a public confession before I ever consider giving you absolution — or a spot on your couch," wrote Ajemian, who signed the notes "Padre," Thompson said.

Ajemian also has been in contact with O'Brien's parents, Thompson said.

A telephone message left Wednesday night at St. Mary-St. Catherine of Siena Church in Boston, which Ajemian gave as his address, was not immediately returned.

...The Boston Archdiocese said in a statement that Ajemian had been placed on leave and was no longer allowed to minister publicly. O'Brien has participated in fundraising activities for the archdiocese.

The priest and the late-night host may have attended Harvard University at the same time. O'Brien graduated in 1985, and Ajemian graduated from high school in 1979 before attending the Ivy League school, according to an alumni magazine published by his high school.

The priest could face up to a year in prison if convicted of aggravated harassment and stalking.

That is really bizarre.

Late Night with Conan O'Brien certainly does its share of anti-Catholic humor. Some is really quite offensive. It always surprises me because O'Brien speaks openly of being Catholic, and, as the article states, he's been active in fundraising for the archdiocese of Boston.

Who knows what's motivating Ajemian to harass O'Brien?


I doubt that it has anything to do with the anti-Catholic jokes. Whatever the reason, Ajemian won't stop annoying O'Brien. Contacting his parents is such a strange move.

It's really odd, a priest referring to himself as one of O'Brien's most dangerous fans. Really creepy.

Fame comes at a high price. Too high.