A New York man accused of directing a racist slur at Today co-host Craig Melvin after allegedly entering a historic NBC building has been sentenced to six months in prison in connection with a separate case.
Andrew Truelove, 41, appeared Wednesday afternoon in Manhattan Criminal Court to address several third-degree criminal mischief charges stemming from an unrelated incident on May 30. Details of that case were not immediately disclosed.
Wearing a tan jumpsuit, Truelove pleaded guilty to violating probation in the case. Judge Gregory Carro imposed a six-month prison sentence followed by five years of probation during a hearing that lasted less than 10 minutes.
Truelove repeatedly looked wide-eyed as he glanced around the 13th-floor courtroom and again appeared startled as he was escorted away.
He answered only in short phrases while entering his plea and made no additional comments.
Truelove is due back in court on November 16, when he is expected to face two hate crime charges tied to his alleged breach of NBC headquarters on the morning of July 16.
According to a criminal complaint cited by CNN, he allegedly used a racist insult against Melvin before telling the television host that he “always wanted to call a black famous person the n–word.”
Truelove was arrested on July 13, 2025, in connection with the criminal mischief allegations addressed in Wednesday’s hearing. He was released after that arrest, before the alleged NBC incident occurred a year later.
Andrew Truelove, 41, received a prison sentence during his Wednesday appearance in New York Criminal Court.
Truelove is scheduled to return to court in November to face hate crime charges over allegations that he entered an NBC building and racially abused Today co-host Craig Melvin.
Melvin allegedly asked Truelove whether being arrested was “what you wanted” after the confrontation.
Truelove was arrested at Rockefeller Center in midtown Manhattan on July 16, 2026, after allegedly insulting Melvin, and has remained in custody ever since.
He allegedly gained access to the iconic NBC complex at about 9 a.m. by following an employee through a secure entrance opened with an identification badge, according to CNN.
Authorities said Truelove entered the building looking for Al Roker. After spotting Melvin, he reportedly began shouting that he wanted to see the Today weather anchor.
He allegedly then approached Melvin and made a racist remark before police took him into custody near the building’s Studio 1A.
The criminal complaint reportedly states that Melvin asked Truelove whether getting arrested was “what you wanted.”
Melvin later addressed the incident on Instagram, assuring followers that he was “doing just fine.”
NBC said in a statement that there had been “no altercation, and no one was injured” during the alleged unauthorized entry.
“TODAY is cooperating fully with law enforcement as they investigate the matter,” the network added. “NBC and TODAY take the safety and security of our employees, talent, staff and guests extremely seriously.”
Truelove was taken into custody on July 13 in connection with the incident addressed during Wednesday’s court appearance.
Melvin posted on social media that he was ‘doing just fine’ after the July incident involving Truelove
The network added that it was reviewing the incident and its security protocols due to what happened.
The Daily Mail was previously told that security concerns were being addressed, with an insider likening the studio to ‘Fort Knox.’
The breach came after host Savannah Guthrie’s mother, 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie, was taken from her Tucson, Arizona, home on January 31.
Savannah, 54, found Truelove’s actions ‘incredibly triggering.’
Truelove is also expected back in court on October 9 over a third unrelated case that started this January.
He was charged with third-degree assault with intent to cause physical injury in that case, where he has pleaded not guilty.
Truelove was homeless for two decades in states including California, Florida, Maryland and Virginia before allegedly racially targeting Melvin, the Los Angeles Times reported.
If convicted in the case involving Melvin, Truelove could face up to 15 years in prison.
He had recently started sleeping in the New York City subway tunnels and was not bothered by the rats, according to the report.
Truelove allegedly slipped into the NBC building by trailing an employee who was able to swipe into restricted areas using their identification
His half-sister, who was unnamed, told the outlet that Truelove did not take his schizophrenia medication and was ‘very sick and very mentally ill.’
Truelove had previously been remanded to Rikers Island in July without bail after violating probation, according to The New York Post.
He had already been sentenced in June to time served and probation after spending six months in prison in a criminal mischief case.
In 2007, Truelove had been convicted of trying to abduct an eight-year-old from a school in Norfolk, Virginia, per WFMD.
Truelove was sentenced to 10 years in prison for the abduction attempt, with six years suspended, and given 10 years of probation, the outlet reported.
He has faced previous charges of trespassing, destruction of property, making bomb threats, and multiple probation violations in Virginia, as well.
The Daily Mail has reached out to the Legal Aid Society, which is representing Truelove, for comment.
