This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2014, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
A Utah State Prison inmate accused of stabbing cellmate Eric Millerberg last year, was sentenced Monday to more time behind bars, after pleading guilty to the assault.
Simon Russel Scown, 30, pleaded guilty Monday to second-degree felony attempted aggravated assault resulting in serious bodily injury in the August 2013 stabbing of Millerberg, who was recently convicted of child abuse homicide.
Additional charges of obstructing justice and having prohibited items inside a correctional facility against Scown were dismissed.
Third District Judge Ann Boyden sentenced Scown to one to 15 years at the prison, where he has already spent more than a year and a half on a sentence of up to five years for violating a protective order and possessing a dangerous weapon.
At the prison, Scown was assigned to live with Millerberg — who initially was awaiting trial on charges of first-degree felony child abuse homicide, unlawful sexual activity with a minor, obstruction of justice and desecration of a human body for the 2011 slaying of 16-year-old Alexis Rasmussen.
About 4:20 p.m. on July 1, prison officers found Millerberg up against the door of the maximum-security cell. Scown was standing over him.
The officers found two cuts on Scown's forearm and noticed Millerberg had a swollen left eye and puncture wounds to his head, neck, back and arms, according to court documents. Later, the documents state, a search of the men's cell revealed a shank and disposable razors.
Millerberg was hospitalized after the attack and treated for two dozen stab and slash wounds.
In February, Millerberg was found guilty in Ogden's 2nd District Court on all counts in connection with Rasmussen's death. He was sentenced last month to up to life in prison.
According to corrections officials, both Millerberg and Scown belong to the gang Silent Aryan Warriors, one of the larger gangs at the prison.
There has been no indication in court documents or from prison officials as to what motivated the attack by Scown.
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