BOISE, Idaho — This article originally appeared in the Idaho Press.
It was during an attack at Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center in Boise in the early morning hours of March 20 that Idaho Department of Correction inmate Skylar Meade escaped from custody with help from an armed accomplice who opened fire on correctional officers.
On Friday morning, Meade was sentenced to life in prison with a fixed term of 35 years by Judge Nancy Baskin at the Ada County Courthouse.
Meade, described by police as a white supremacist gang member, was originally sentenced to 20 years in prison in 2017, after he shot at a Twin Falls sheriff's sergeant during a high-speed chase. His sentence Friday runs consecutive to the sentences he was previously serving.
A quiet anticipation filled the air in courtroom 504 on Friday morning, as a small audience awaited the sentencing of Meade. Dressed in a yellow jumpsuit and a white undershirt, Meade entered the courtroom at 9 a.m. with chains around his waist.
During the sentencing, Meade was described as being a “career criminal,” by Baskin and the state prosecution. Meade has a criminal history going back to 2010 that includes grand theft, possession of a controlled substance, assault and unlawful possession of a firearm.
“There can be no doubt in this court's mind that at the time you began to plan this escape that you intended to harm people,” Baskin said to Meade during the sentencing.
After his escape and capture, Meade was charged with two felonies and a misdemeanor – possession of a controlled substance; escape by one charged, convicted or on probation for a felony; and contraband unlawfully possessed, introduced or removed from correctional facilities – plus two persistent violator enhancements. Meade pleaded guilty to all charges.
According to prosecutors, Meade was assisted in the attack by Nicholas Umphenour, who has been charged with three counts of assault or battery upon certain personnel, escape by one charged or convicted for a felony, unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon — all felonies — plus persistent violator and use of a deadly weapon enhancements. His trial is scheduled in October, according to online court records.
Meade escaped from custody as correctional officers got ready to bring him back to prison from Saint Alphonsus hospital, which is located at 1055 N. Curtis Road in Boise. According to Josh Tewalt, the department of correction director, Meade was taken to Saint Alphonsus on March 19 around 9:30 p.m. after engaging in self harm.
Just hours later, around 2:15 a.m., three correctional officers were shot in the ambulance bay of the hospital, near the emergency department. Nicholas Umphenour shot two of the correctional officers, prosecutors say. A third officer was shot and injured when a fellow police officer mistook him for the shooter and opened fire. All three of the officers survived their injuries.
One of the officers shot was Daniel Lopez, who shared a victim impact statement in court Friday.
“We weren’t human to him,” Lopez said.
Lopez said that he had every opportunity to defend himself and his partners, but didn’t because of his regard for human life. He was shot from behind by Umphenour, he said.
“That night I was prepared to die defending the defendant, that was my job,” Lopez said.
Lopez said he previously viewed Meade as someone that could eventually rehabilitate, and do good for his community.
“I was really hoping that he would one day get out of prison,” Lopez said.
Before Meade's sentencing, state prosecutor Heather Reilly showed text messages exchanged between Umphenour and Meade prior to Meade’s escape. Their communication began on March 4, when the two discussed funds necessary for the escape and exchanged voice messages. The pair also discussed what to do about law enforcement during the escape.
“When it comes to cops, let's only do it if we have to,” Meade wrote to Umphenour, saying he did not want to shoot officers unless they had to.
However, in Umphenour’s texts to Meade, he said that he was ready to “snatch a life” and if officers tried to draw their weapons, the suspects would shoot.
According to Reilly, several people were aware of the plan to escape, including Meade’s brother Cody, who is also in prison for another offense. By March 11, Umphenour was purchasing ammunition for the escape plan.
The suspects fled the scene in a stolen Honda Civic and drove north through Idaho, encountering 83-year-old James Mauney near Juliaetta — over 250 miles from Boise. According to police, Mauney and his dogs were driven in Mauney's car to Leland, about 10 miles from Juliaetta, which is where Mauney's body and Meade's Honda Civic getaway car were found.
According to a police report, Meade's shackles and Mauney's dogs were found in 72-year-old Gerald "Don" Henderson's home just outside of Orofino. Henderson was found dead in his home.
The two men were arrested the afternoon of March 21 in Twin Falls after a brief car chase.
According to Idaho State Police, both Meade and Umphenour are being investigated for potential involvement in the two homicides, but the court is currently only addressing the offenses that happened in Ada County.
Previous reporting from the Associated Press contributed to this report.
This article originally appeared in the Idaho Press, read more on IdahoPress.com.