November 24, 2023 - LAS VEGAS – Two individuals have been sentenced for assaulting a court security officer at the Lloyd D. George Federal Courthouse on October 3, 2022. The defendants approached the officer as he was guarding a private entrance to the Courthouse and instigated an altercation in which both individuals attempted to grab the officer’s firearm before being taken into custody.

Stephen Don Rhymes (22) was sentenced to 46 months in prison on November 8, 2023, for his role in the offense. Shi Kozulyn Bass (42) was sentenced to 20 months in prison on October 18, 2023. Rhymes and Bass each pleaded guilty to one count of assaulting, resisting or impeding a federal officer or employee. United States District Judge James C. Mahan presided over both sentencing hearings.

According to court documents, on October 3, 2022, a court security officer ordered both Rhymes and Bass to leave the entrance area of the courthouse. They refused to obey the orders and continued to approach the officer in a threatening manner. Rhymes punched the officer in the face. When the officer attempted to place Rhymes under arrest, both Rhymes and Bass attempted to grab and remove the firearm from the officer’s holster.

United States Attorney Jason M. Frierson for the District of Nevada and Marshal Gary Schofield for the United States Marshals Service made the announcement.

The case was investigated by the United States Marshals Service. The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Nevada prosecuted the case.

Source: DOJ Release