BOISE, Idaho — Skylar Meade, the Idaho inmate who escaped police custody while undergoing medical treatment for self-inflicted wounds at a Boise hospital, pleaded guilty to two charges Wednesday: Prison escape and persistent violator.
Meade entered his plea alongside his defense counsel in an Ada County courtroom Wednesday, May 15, for his violent March 20 prison escape, that resulted in three law enforcement officers shot and wounded and prompted a statewide, 36-hour manhunt.
Meade is facing two additional felony enhancements, which will be addressed in a status conference hearing on June 20 at 2:30 p.m., pending any changes with court scheduling.
He will face sentencing on July 19 at 9 a.m. in Ada County for the two charges to which he pleaded guilty.
As KTVB previously reported, at approximately 2 a.m. on Wednesday, March 20, Meade was transported by ambulance to Saint Alphonsus to receive medical treatment for self-inflicted wounds to his face and body, according to Idaho Department of Correction (IDOC) Director Josh Tewalt. Two IDOC officers accompanied Meade in the ambulance with additional armed IDOC staff following behind.
After Meade was treated, IDOC staff were preparing to transport him back to the prison when an unknown suspect, later identified as Nicholas Umphenour, fired gunshots at officers hitting two of them, BPD said.
Three officers in total were injured. Officials said one officer is in critical but stable condition, another sustained serious, but non-life-threatening injuries, and the third officer that was allegedly struck by a BPD officer received care for the non-life-threatening injuries.
The two suspects then fled.
At approximately 2 p.m. Thursday, Meade and Umphenour were located and arrested in Twin Falls County following a short vehicle pursuit. Tonia Huber, 52, was also arrested on charges of eluding authorities and possession of a controlled substance. It is unclear what her connection is to the two men.
Two other suspects are being tried for having affiliations with the crime. A third suspect, Tonia Huber, 52, was arrested on March 21 on charges of eluding authorities, as well as possession of a controlled substance. Tia J. Garcia, 27, of Twin Falls was then arrested and is facing a felony charge of aiding and abetting for her involvement in planning Skylar Meade's escape, according to the Boise Police Department.
Additionally, Idaho State Police (ISP) said Meade and Umphenour are being investigated for potential involvement in two northern Idaho homicides, one in Clearwater County and one in Nez Perce County.
The two homicides were not mentioned in Wednesday's hearing, as the presiding judge iterated that the court is only addressing the offenses which took place within Ada County's jurisdiction.
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