BEATRICE – Calling it not an easy decision and saying he’s not sure it’s the right one, a Gage County District Court judge Wednesday sentenced a 20-year-old Lincoln man to a lengthy term of probation for firing shots into a Beatrice residence, last summer.


Jordan Meyer will serve a five-year term of intensively supervised probation for his role in the incident at 14th and Lincoln Streets, where shots from a handgun and shotgun struck a house but injured no one. Jordan was convicted of attempted possession of a firearm during commission of a felony, attempted terrorist threats and criminal mischief.


Judge Rick Schreiner wasn’t impressed with Meyer’s response that the incident was a poor choice of actions that will impact his life now and forever.
"I want you to turn around and look at this young lady who is in this courtroom, here. That's an individual you almost killed. You think her life is impacted? It's not about you. And, I'm afraid you have been operating under that false pretense for a large majority of your life, that you think it is about you...and it's not."


Meyer was 19 and Colten Anderson, of Firth was 18 when the pair fired the shots into the residence. Anderson previously was sentenced to probation.
Judge Schreiner says he was not convinced that a prison term could provide enough treatment for Meyer to change his ways. Meyer could have received up to 24 years in state prison. He’s been in the Gage County Jail for 331 days.


The judge considered Meyer’s age, background and relative lack of criminal history. "But, what you do have is concerning. The motivation for the offense, I just don't know. I will never know or understand why it gets to that. The nature of the offense, it was just an extremely dangerous offense with the violence involved. Without question, it was terrifying for those involved and there is just really no reason, for this."


During the August 3rd incident, Beatrice Police recovered six spent 20-gauge shotgun shells and 16 spent 40-caliber rounds at the scene. The two men involved were later arrested on warrants, after investigation revealed that mailboxes and a parked vehicle near Beatrice had been shot multiple times reportedly with the same weapons.


Judge Schreiner warned Meyer about what would be next if he violates the probation term he’s been given.  "It says, order. They're not suggestions. You read the black part....not the white part. If you violate your probation and the State of Nebraska can prove that by clear and convincing evidence, it won't be a sentence at the low end."


Defense Attorney Mark Rappl of Lincoln said the incident and actions by Meyer were dangerous and senseless, and it was fortunate no one was seriously injured.
"Younger people like Mr. Meyer tend to act impulsively and don't have a great grasp of the consequences of their actions...and I do think that may have played a role in this case...his young age and under-developed brain. I'd also like the court to consider the nature and extent of Mr. Meyer's prior criminal record. At the time he committed these offenses he only had three misdemeanor offenses on his record, that preceded his actions by less than six months. Mr. Meyer has no prior violent convictions on his record."


As part of the five-year probation, Meyer will be subject to GPS monitoring, must consent to search of his phone and computer and online communications. The judge ordered five 30-day jail terms throughout the probation… time that can be waived if Meyer complies with probation terms.


As part of a plea agreement, the two felony charges for which Meyer was convicted were lowered from more serious charges, and four misdemeanor criminal mischief counts were dropped. Jordan is barred from possessing any firearms or dangerous weapons and was ordered to have no contact with the victims of his crimes.