By Lori Pilger
Lincoln Journal Star, Neb.
LINCOLN, Neb. — A Nebraska inmate serving time for manslaughter and other charges saw his sentence more than double after getting 48 to 54 more years in prison Monday for a violent attack on correctional officers inside a state prison in Lincoln in 2023.
“This was a very violent act,” Lancaster County District Judge Matthew Mellor said.
He said John Meyers had shown a complete disregard for the safety of other inmates and staff at the Reception and Treatment Center May 31, 2023.
The assault left five officers injured, one stabbed and kicked in the head, according to court records.
The Nebraska State Patrol initially booked Meyers, 41, and two others — Eric Ramirez, 34, and Jonathan Gonzalez Salas, 23 — on suspicion of attempted murder.
But the three, who since have been transferred to the Tecumseh State Correctional Institution, all ultimately pleaded to felony assault charges.
On Monday, defense attorney Sandy Pollack said prior to this incident, Meyers had been in segregated, restricted housing for seven years and on and off for a total of 12 years.
“Out of the blue, the Department of Correctional Services decided to transfer him from Tecumseh down to Lincoln with no explanation,” he said.
Pollack said he believes politics drove the decision to move Meyers from restricted housing to general population overnight, despite “substantial concerns.”
“And it’s unfortunate that this situation came about,” he said.
Pollack said Meyers said it was a spur-of-the-moment decision, and certainly a poor decision. He lost six years of good-time credit toward his sentences as a result.
Meyers, who appeared by videoconference from Tecumseh, didn’t say anything.
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