LARNED — On Wednesday afternoon, Anthony Ruiz-Hernandez, 22 of Topeka, waived his right to a preliminary hearing and entered a guilty plea to one count of attempted first-degree murder.

According to Pawnee County Attorney Douglas McNett, the charge stems from two patient-on-patient attacks on October 22, 2018, that occurred on the afternoon of at the Isaac Ray Building on the campus of Larned State Hospital. Two patients sustained great bodily harm requiring transport to outside medical facilities. One patient’s injuries were life-threatening at the time due to severe head trauma.

All individuals involved were at LSH at the time for forensic evaluations related to out-of-county criminal charges. Hernandez told investigators the attacks were done in part to gain standing in a prison gang.

District Judge Bruce Gatterman accepted the plea.

In exchange for the plea, the state agreed to dismiss two counts of conspiracy to commit first-degree murder and one count of aggravated battery. The attempted first-degree murder charge carries a maximum penalty of 54 and a half years with the Kansas Department of Corrections.

Hernandez is currently being housed on local charges in the Shawnee County Adult Detention Center. His sentencing has been scheduled for April 15.

Co-defendant Andres Gustavo Barrientos, 24, of Leavenworth, is scheduled for arraignment on March 14. He is being housed in the Leavenworth County Jail on local charges. Barrientos has a 2016 conviction in Leavenworth County for burglary.