A Texas man who walked up to a shopper in a Lakewood grocery store and told her, "I am borrowing your daughter," as he tried to lead away her 8-year-old granddaughter, is headed to state prison for six years, followed by three years of mandatory parole. The bizarre and frightening encounter last June was cut short by the grandmother and quick-moving store staff, who stopped him from leaving with the child and triggered a criminal investigation that rattled local shoppers.
Judge Hands Down Six-Year Term
A Jefferson County district court judge sentenced 34-year-old Bradley Mikel Wilson to six years in the Colorado Department of Corrections, plus a mandatory three-year parole term. Wilson had pleaded guilty to a felony count of attempted kidnapping, avoiding trial but not the prison time that prosecutors had been pushing for, CBS Colorado reported.
What Happened in the Store
According to a Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office press release, the June 21, 2025, incident began in the produce section, where Wilson approached a woman and her then-8-year-old granddaughter and said something along the lines of, "May I borrow your child?" He then put his hands on the girl’s shoulders and started guiding her toward the exit.
The grandmother shouted, drawing attention as store workers intervened. Surveillance footage shows the girl breaking away, running back to her grandmother, and hiding behind her. The sheriff’s office says Wilson left the store but returned a short time later and tried again, which is when employees called 9-1-1. The sequence of events is described in detail in the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office press release.
Police Tracked Him Down
Employees worked with a gas-station attendant who snapped a photo of the suspect vehicle’s Texas license plate, giving deputies a crucial lead. Two days later, law enforcement stopped and arrested Wilson near Highway 285 and Willow Springs Road. He was booked into the Jefferson County Detention Facility on a second-degree kidnapping charge, according to local coverage from the Denver Gazette.
Prosecutors Outline Harm to the Victim
At sentencing, prosecutors told the court that the girl "no longer feels safe" after the encounter and pointed to Wilson’s decision to return to the store after his first attempt as especially alarming. Court records show the judge ordered a mental-health evaluation during the prosecution, before Wilson entered his guilty plea, CBS Colorado reported.
Officials said the girl and her grandmother were not physically injured, but prosecutors argued the six-year sentence was necessary to hold Wilson accountable and protect the public. Authorities say the case is a stark reminder for shoppers and store employees to stay alert and report suspicious behavior to law enforcement immediately.
