America’s sweetheart may be one very disturbed person’s sweetheart too, in his mind at least. Thomas James Weldon has followed Sandra Bullock across three states, from Michigan to Texas to California. He has sent her e-mails, faxes and he’s left voice mails with both her and her family, indicating that he wants to be in a relationship with her.

In 2003, Bullock filed for a restraining order against him, and since the accused failed to appear to counter her allegations, Los Angeles Superior Court Commissioner Scott M. Gordon issued a default judgment against him, ordering him to stay 200 yards away from Bullock.

Prior to the decision though, Weldon had already checked himself into the Middle Tennessee Mental Health Institute in Nashville, and has admitted “a serious psychological disorder (paranoid schizophrenia) for which he has often refused to take medication,” according to a statement by Bullock’s attorney.

The hospital was planning to allow Weldon a 90-day furlough in September, and a terrified Bullock wrote in a court filing “I continue to fear for my physical safety and the physical safety of my family.” Bullock and her attorney believe Weldon remains fixated on her, so they filed for an extension and got it. The court order against this stalker is now active until 2009.

Bullock did not appear in court for the hearing. The star’s attorney, Edwin F. McPherson, stated after the decision that he thinks “she can feel a little bit safer now.”

Another lawsuit was filed by Bullock and her film company, Fortis Films a few months ago though, against the hospital where Weldon is being treated. No damages are being sought, all that she is looking for in that suit is that the hospital inform them when Weldon is released from Middle Tennessee Mental Health Institute. The hospital’s spokeswoman, Jill Hudson, declined to comment.