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Taylor pleads guilty in court to stalking, phone threats

Former football star now faces charges, 3 years probation

The former University of Wisconsin football player who threatened to kill Athletic Director Barry Alvarez in November was sentenced to three years probation Thursday after pleading guilty to stalking and unlawful phone use.

Leonard Taylor, 32, of Indianapolis appeared before Dane County Circuit Court Judge John Markson, who administered the sentence and authorized the transfer of Taylor’s probation to Indiana.

Taylor has been prohibited from making any direct contact with the UW Athletic Department or the individuals and families included in his threats. He has been forbidden from returning to the state of Wisconsin for the duration of his probation period, unless otherwise ordered by the court or his agent, according to court records.

Taylor, who was declared unfit for trial in December and has since undergone psychiatric treatment, was also instructed by the court to cooperate with all continued mental health regimens and take prescribed medicines.

In a criminal complaint last fall, Taylor’s father stated his son had been previously diagnosed as a paranoid schizophrenic. At the time of his arrest, Taylor had been off his medication for three months and had not been visiting his therapist.

Taylor was originally arrested in November after making at least 29 threatening phone calls to Alvarez’s office over a two-day period.

The calls threatened the lives of Alvarez and his family, along with that of professional tennis player Maria Sharapova.

“And I’m going to kill you first motherfucker,” Taylor said in a voicemail to Alvarez. “I’ve got 24 goddamn hours motherfucker. … I’m coming for your goddamn ass.”

Taylor made the calls from his home in Indianapolis and had called the Athletic Department on several occasions dating back to fall 2007.

The Dane County Court issued a formal injunction against Taylor Dec. 12 on behalf of Alvarez, stating there was “clear and convincing evidence that the respondent/defendant may use a firearm to cause physical harm to another or endanger public safety.”

Taylor played for the Badgers from 1995 to 1998, a period during which Alvarez was the head coach.

UW Communications did not return several phone calls as of press time.