An Idaho man who helped a fellow white supremacist gang member escape during a hospital ambush in Boise has been sentenced to life in prison. Nicholas Umphenour, 29, was charged with aiding and abetting escape and aggravated assault and battery on law enforcement officers for the attack at Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center on March 20.
Umphenour, who had pleaded guilty earlier this year, was described by Fourth District Judge Nancy Baskin as an unremorseful “career criminal.” The judge stated that Umphenour would not be eligible for parole for at least 40 years due to being a clear danger to the community.
Prosecutors revealed that Umphenour and the escaped inmate, Skylar Meade, both members of a white supremacist gang, had plotted the escape while in prison. Text messages showed Umphenour acquiring ammunition, a gun, and other supplies for the escape, with discussions involving the possibility of shooting officers during the break.
The hospital ambush saw Umphenour shooting two correctional officers before fleeing with Meade. A responding police officer unintentionally shot a third officer during the chaos. Prosecutor Heather Reilly highlighted that the escape put many people in danger, including patients, healthcare workers, and the general public.
Meade and Umphenour were apprehended 36 hours after the attack, with Meade receiving a life sentence earlier this year. They are also facing murder charges in connection with the death of an 83-year-old man and another individual in northern Idaho. The prosecutor in the murder case aims to seek the death penalty, heightening the legal stakes for Umphenour.
Umphenour’s attorney expressed disagreements with the prosecutor’s portrayal of events but noted limitations on the defense due to the ongoing murder case. Despite arguments, Umphenour was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for several decades.
The judge condemned Umphenour’s actions, urging him to reflect on the consequences of his violence and to strive to become a better individual. The case serves as a stark reminder of the devastating impact of criminal acts on victims, their families, and society as a whole.