Miley Cyrus Stalker's Charges Lessened

Jury decides 53-year-old stalker wasn't major threat.

Remember the August story about Miley Cyrus being stalked outside the set of The Last Song in Georgia by a much older man who reportedly yelled profanities, claimed he was engaged to Miley and tried to head-butt a police officer? That alleged stalker, Mark McLeod, faced a grand jury today...and the result doesn't sound very pleasing to Miley Cyrus.

The jury determined that McLeod's actions didn't warrant felony charges as were originally sought. They decided that his attempts to get close to Miley Cyrus do deserve punishment, but not at the Federal level.

Instead prosecutors plan to slap McLeod with misdemeanor charges for attempted stalking and disorderly conduct. McLeod has been stuck in prison since August and held on $55,200 bail. His family has said that as an unemployed plumber's assistant, McLeod has no way of coming up with the funds to pay bail.

McLeod's attorney said Thursday that he felt "vindicated, a little" at the jury's decision. "The grand jury showed some common sense, which no one else in this case seems to have, which is there's nothing to these charges," attorney James Byrne said. "He didn't stalk anyone, he didn't threaten anyone. He acted strangely, and that's why he's in jail." Byrne said he plans to ask for McLeod's bail to be lessened soon.

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Despite the legal wackiness, Miley Cyrus actually had a pretty sweet week. Check out our story on Miley singing "The Climb" to one precious and adoring little fan with big hopes.