Erin Andrews Stalker Tracked Her Down In Ohio

(USA Today) -- The man accused of stalking and secretly filming ESPN sportscaster Erin Andrews in her Marriott hotel room in Nashville last year is believed to have done the same while Andrews stayed in Columbus, Ohio, according to a Columbus Dispatch report that cites newly released federal court documents.

The government claims that the Columbus stalking and taping represents the first time the suspected stalker shot video of Andrews without her knowledge, the story says.

Also important to note is that her stalker called seven properties in Columbus before figuring out Andrews' location on Feb. 5, 2008, the article says, citing court records. The records do not identify the hotel, the Dispatch tells us. Hotels are supposed to keep guest information confidential.

Michael David Barrett, 48, of Westmont, Ill. - a former traveling insurance salesman - is facing felony interstate stalking charges in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles, the story says. If convicted, Barrett could face up to five years in federal prison.

Barrett is scheduled to make his first appearance in court today, the Associated Press reports. Check back with me here on Hotel Check-In for updates. The appearance is scheduled for 2 pm California time.

According to the article in the Dispatch, an FBI spokesman in Los Angeles declined to say which hotel Andrews was in while she was secretly taped. The story says she was there to cover the OSU-Michigan basketball game.

The illegal tapings of Andrews were made in 2008, but the story broke in February when nude footage of her shot in hotel rooms went viral on the Internet. Barrett was arrested in connection with the case after allegedly trying to sell the video footage to TMZ.com, the celebrity tracking site. Andrews vowed to seek criminal and civil justice.

Barrett also allegedly tracked her down while she was staying in Milwaukee, this time at a Radisson hotel. He allegedly tracker her down at that hotel after calling 14 other hotels.