Judge sentences Cedar Rapids man to 20 years in prison for tossing urine on jail deputies— and the burglaries before that

CEDAR RAPIDS - A Cedar Rapids man, who may be one of the longest serving inmates in the the Linn County Correctional Center, was sentenced Tuesday to 20 years in prison for burglary and throwing his urine on jail deputies.

6th Judicial District Judge Mary Chicchelly revoked probation and sentenced Kwanie Young, 36, of Cedar Rapids, on two five year sentences for two third-degree burglaries of two different homes in 2014 and 2015.

She also sentenced him to five years for another third-degree burglary of Jim's Foods in 2015 and five more years for two counts of assault by an inmate for collecting his urine in a milk carton and paper cup and throwing it at two different Linn County Sheriff's deputies in the jail.

Young previously pleaded guilty to all offenses and admitted Tuesday that he violated a number of rules to have his probation revoked on two of the burglary charges.

Jail records show Young has served 624 days in jail from October 26, 2015 through Tuesday pending his pleas and sentencings.

During the hearing, Young apologized to the court and the deputies who he assaulted but claimed it wasn't urine that he threw on them. He said he pleaded because he wanted this 'to get over.” He was intoxicated at the time and didn't actually intend to assault them. Young then said he understood if the judge gave him 20 years but indicated he thought it was too much. He admitted he has a 'temper problem.”

'I'm not a violent guy… I'm not a monster,” Young said.

Linn County Attorney Jerry Vander Sanden asked the court to sentenced Young to 20 years because he was given a 'golden gift” when another judge placed him on probation and Young promised him that he 'would turn things around.”

That judge also told Young he would face consequences if he didn't and less than three months later, Young committed the burglary at Jim's Foods, Vander Sanden said. He 'cased” the store before it closed and then came back after hours, broke out the glass door and stole liquor and other items.

In the jail surveillance video that captured Young throwing his urine on the deputies, Young is heard tauting and mocking the deputies, Vander Sanden pointed out. He wanted the other inmates to see what he was doing.

'He has no interest in rehabilitation and no regard for the law,” Vander Sanden told the judge.

Geneva Williams, Young's attorney, asked the court to run the sentences concurrently for less prison time. She noted that Young has mental health issues that need to be addressed, and he now accepts responsibility for his actions.

Chicchelly said she specifically ran the sentences consecutively based on the seriousness of the offenses and as a deterrent to Young to consider going forward. She explained to him that she always addresses each defendant because she wants them to understand the reasons behind her sentencings.

'I don't view you as a monster – you're a person,” Chicchelly added.

She told Young he needed to rehabilitate so he can become a better person, and she hopes he learns from his mistakes and seeks the treatment he feels he needs.

Chicchelly also ordered him to pay $750 on each charge for fines, court costs and $1,896 in victim's restitution to Jim's Foods.

Young will receive jail credit for time served on each charge that could shave off several years from his 20-year sentence. The Iowa Department of Corrections will calculate his total credit for time served, which

could include probation time and time served in other facilities.

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