Florida man gets 5 years for ECC kidnap attempt

An ex-convict from Florida pleaded guilty Friday in the attempted kidnapping and beating of a student on the Elgin Community College campus, authorities said.

Thomas Siebert, 53, was sentenced to five years in prison in the Aug. 20 attack, which took place in a parking lot on campus, Kane County prosecutors said.

Siebert, who lived on Brookside Drive in Elgin, pleaded guilty to a pair of kidnapping offenses. He must serve at least half his sentence before he is eligible for parole.

He had served prison time for robbery, battery and drug offenses in Florida, prosecutors said.

Siebert was accused of attacking a 21-year-old student in the parking lot of the campus, punching her and trying to drag her into a vehicle.

Police have said the attack was thwarted after a witness screamed for help and the attacker drove away.

Seibert was arrested Aug. 31 at a traffic stop while police investigated an unrelated incident. He was identified with the kidnapping attempt when put in a police lineup.

He had been in the Kane County jail on $500,000 bail since his arrest.