A Colorado man who stalked pop star Taylor Swift in 2018 was sentenced to prison this week in Nebraska for an incident at a Grand Island gas station.
Julius Sandrock, 44, of Broomfield, Colorado, initially was accused of the attempted kidnapping of a 17-year-old boy.
But he ultimately pleaded no contest to first-degree false imprisonment, terroristic threats and third-degree assault as part of a plea deal.
This week, Hall County District Judge Andrew Butler sentenced Sandrock to three years in prison, plus a year and a half of post-release supervision.
In court records, Grand Island Police said they were called to a Pump & Pantry on Locust Street shortly before 10 a.m. Oct. 24, 2022, on the report of a teenager, who said a man had tried to abduct him while he was pumping gas.
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Video from the store showed Sandrock — wearing rubber gloves and a black trench coat — lunge toward the 17-year-old as he walked to his car after prepaying, but get back into his Buick Encore when another car pulled up.
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As the boy pumped gas, the man repositioned his car, then got out and crouched behind the pump and lunged at the teen, hitting him in the face.
The teen was able to run away, and Sandrock ran back to his Buick and drove off.
Police later identified Sandrock as the man responsible after Shelton Police about 30 miles down the road got a report about a man in a trench coat, rubber gloves and surgical booties on his shoes buying rubbing alcohol and latex gloves at a store there.
The credit card tracked back to Sandrock, whose vehicle matched the description of the one in the gas station video.
Investigators said Sandrock had been contacted for similar suspicious activity in California when he was found outside of Swift's home with rubber gloves, a knife and rope in 2018.
Swift later was granted a five-year restraining order against him.
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Top Journal Star photos for July 2024
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Reach the writer at 402-473-7237 or lpilger@journalstar.com .
On Twitter @LJSpilger
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