Kansas State professor charged with stalking athlete

? A Kansas State University professor was bound over for trial this week on charges of stalking, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.

John Jeffery Uhlarik, a tenured psychology professor, is accused of stalking a former female Kansas State athlete over a period of five years, despite several court-ordered protective orders against him.

The woman, who lives in Manhattan with her husband and child, testified Wednesday that Uhlarik often followed her to practices at Ahearn Field House and other places, causing her to have repeated nightmares and fear for her family’s safety.

“I don’t understand why it hasn’t stopped,” she said.

Riley County District Court Judge Paul Wright ruled there was probable cause for Uhlarik to stand trial and set an arraignment on all three charges for Monday.

Uhlarik was arrested in March for stalking and violating a protective order. While serving a search warrant at his home, officers uncovered several pieces of drug paraphernalia and an undisclosed amount of marijuana.

But the validity of the protective orders was thrown into question when it was reportedly discovered that the most recent one was not signed by a judge.

The Riley County Attorney’s office has never before prosecuted Uhlarik, despite 13 police reports filed either with the university police department or the Riley County Police Department.

Uhlarik’s attorney, Keen Umbehr, on Wednesday questioned the validity of at least two of the protective orders. Umbehr also said that in some cases, the police reports do not allege a crime was committed.