Youth facing man's prison time

A 17-year-old boy could spend as many as six years in an adult prison for beating an employee at the Carson City youth detention center .

Will Michael McNurney pleaded guilty Monday to battery by a prisoner, a felony. He admitted that on Aug. 13 he caused substantial bodily harm to a probation officer before attempting run away. He did not make it out of the building and the officer was treated and released at Carson-Tahoe Hospital.

Since the incident, McNurney has been in the custody of the Carson City Sheriff's Department.

Before he is sentenced in the battery case, McNurney will serve time on a Lyon County charge. When he is released, Judge Michael Griffin will sentence him.

McNurney admitted his actions and motives to Griffin.

"I thought I'd be able escape," he said. "A lot of stuff went through my head."

Once in the prison system, NcNurney could be classified as an escape risk and a threat to staff.