Two young men who attacked two employees at a North Platte youth shelter will be grown men when they get out of prison.

Jordan Baker, 17, and Keenan Lambert, 18, appeared in Lincoln County District Court for sentencing on Monday.

Prosecutors say Baker and Lambert attacked Diana Johns and Robin Schneider at the North Platte Youth Shelter on July 8, 2013.

They say Baker stabbed Johns twice in the neck, while Lambert stabbed Schneider five times, in the head and neck, during an escape attempt.  The pair then stole a car, before being captured in Dawson county.

Baker was sentenced first.

Lincoln County Attorney, Rebecca Harling, addressed the court saying, “The victims of this crime are here today, and have been at every hearing.  They are here with injuries that they will have to deal with for the rest of their lives.”

She said Baker and Lambert could easily be facing a homicide charge.

“The victims want these two held accountable, as do I,” Harling said.

Baker’s attorney, Patrick Heng, spoke next.

Heng said not a day goes by, that Baker doesn’t think of Johns.  He said Baker sent a letter to Johns stating this fact.

He then noted that Baker was at the shelter on a simple truancy charge, and was following Lambert’s lead.

“He was a player, not the ring leader, ” Heng said.

Baker then addressed the court.

“I apologize to the victims, their families and the entire community of North Platte,” Baker said.  “I tried to take the life of someone who was trying to make mine better.”

Judge Rowlands then handed down the sentence.

He agreed that Baker was not the leader in the attack.  He also noted that Baker, now 17, was only 16 at the time of the crime.

He then sentenced him to 10 to 20 years in prison for 1st degree assault, and 5-10 years for use of a weapon to commit a felony.  Rowlands ordered that the sentences be served consecutively, or one after the other, bringing the total sentence to 15 to 20 years.

Next, it was Lambert’s turn to be sentenced.

Harling’s statement was much the same as it was prior to Baker’s sentencing.

However, she added that the prosecution felt that Lambert was the leader in the attack.  She also stated that Lambert’s psychological evaluation was “concerning,” and felt the he deserved a substantial penitentiary sentence.

Lambert’s attorney, Stephen Potter, asked the court to consider Lambert’s age, and the fact that he entered a plea in the case.

Potter also voiced concern over the sentencing of Baker and Lambert, saying the court was sending these two young men to the pen for an assault, when an older man was sentenced to probation immediately before them for motor vehicle homicide.

It doesn’t make sense, Potter said.

Lambert then addressed the court saying he thinks about the crime every day.

“I’m truly sorry,” Lambert said.

Judge Rowlands made note of Lambert’s minimal record, and the fact that he did enter a plea to the crime.

But, he also agreed that Lambert was the ring-leader, and said he had been placed on lockdown twice at the Lincoln County Detention Center for rules violations.

He then sentenced Lambert to 15 to 30 years for 1st degree assault, and 5 to 10 years for use of a weapon to commit a felony.  The sentences will be served consecutively, bring the total sentence to 20 to 40 years.

Both Lambert and Baker showed little emotion during or after their sentencing.