I don’t think I ever expected to know someone described in the newspaper as “an Idaho drifter who claimed he was on a mission from God.” But it turns out that I graduated high school with Zack Sinclair, the man who was recently convicted of stalking Mel Gibson.
Sinclair was first arrested in September for investigation of stalking after he made several attempts to meet Gibson at the actor’s Malibu estate. He was released Oct. 6 and served with a restraining order that prohibited him from coming near the actor-director or his family for three years.
But Sinclair was arrested the next day when he returned to Gibson’s home — the arrest that resulted in this trial.
In his testimony, Gibson testified he was attending church services in September 2004 when he got up briefly and returned to find Sinclair sitting in his seat.
Sinclair moved within a few inches of his face, Gibson said, telling him, “Hi, I’m here to pray with you.”
I didn’t know him very well in high school – we hung out with many of the same people, but we didn’t hang out just the two of us. In fact, I have only two distinct Zack stories off the top of my head: driving back from Derkies Lake, he passed me in his car doing at least 100 mph on a long country road (in Southern Idaho, there are a lot of long country roads); and the following, told second-hand. At our 10-year high school reunion, Zack showed up in a borrowed McDonald’s uniform, apologizing to people for being late and mentioning that his shift wasn’t very glamorous but it was much much better than prison. This coming from a guy who was always pretty straight-laced, and came from a wealthy family. It was apparently a riot.
I hope Zack gets some professional help if needed. And although this news has made a bit of a splash for those of us who have known him, I’m also glad to not be reading about a classmate or colleague who’s gone on a killing spree or something.
Jeff Carlson | Never Enough Coffee Creations 
I am shocked that a poor man who just wanted to
pray with Mel Gibson has been jailed for 3 years.
I find this to be very revealing about his real true
attitude given his “Passion of the Christ” movie.
While I do not know all of the details about everything
that happened, I do know that someone wasn’t true
to their own professed beliefs in Matthew 25:45 and
this is an important thing to consider (Mat 25:31-46).
If this disturbs me even though I am not a follower of
their faith, then why doesn’t it disturb many others
who do believe in the words of Matthew 25:31-46?
Actions do speak louder than words and in this case
there is a message for all who are willing to see it
and to learn from it because it can open our eyes.
Bill, I think the point was that Zack wasn’t just “a poor man who just wanted to pray with Mel Gibson.” It sounds like there was a pattern of intrusive behavior that went well beyond that (hence the restraining order). I don’t know any of the other details beyond what was in the article, and I admit that I haven’t seen (nor do I have an interest in seeing) Gibson’s “Passion of the Christ” movie, and therefore haven’t paid much attention to the actor’s religious beliefs. My sense is that this incident is more indicative of the specific situation rather than a critique on how Gibson lives his life.
It really is too bad zack went crazy after the passion. I believe he is doing better know from what I hear. I guess some of grandpas potato money got to him. Peace From SUN VALLEY, First Prize Keegan Inc.
When I moved to Idaho in 81, my mother enrolled me into private school. Although I was a Catholic they only had a Lutheran school in Twin Falls, ID so I got that. Well Zack Sinclair was the only other Catholic kid in that Lutheran school so he and I hit it off as buds. The four years I was in Twin, Zack and I remained best friends. We had our differences and arguments, we even brawled a couple of times but it didn’t threaten us being friends. We were always in trouble, not legal but mischevious activity. I talked to Zack a few months before he got in trouble and he was doing ok it sounded like. I never bought into the catholic crap but Zack did and after he was out of the Navy he really had rigid religious overtones in a letter he sent me. Well I just want to say Zack never made me uneasy and is a good guy in my opinion
Why didn’t he just pray with the guy. Mel Gibson, what a weak example of an Auzzie on this occasion but I enjoyed what he’s done as an actor. It’s ironic that Zach was locked up primarily because Mel had fears for his family’s safety, yet Gibson is now divorced from that wife and has a new girlfriend and child, Mel’s drunk driving episodes are potentially more dangerous to others, rooted in his own mental illness and yet he of course never had to look squarely at any 3 year prison term. He needs to remember the homeless man he kicked to the side and forgot. The message in Matthew is indeed appropriate….”I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me..” It’s also ironic that there are stories of Mad Max asking religious leaders both Catholic and Jewish to pray for him for his own misbehavior. What was wrong with the homeless guy’s prayers? I hope Zach has found peace and rest in his life.