TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) — A Terre Haute inmate has been sentenced to an additional 32 months in prison after pleading guilty to assaulting a federal officer. 

According to a press release from the United States Attorney’s Office Southern District of Indiana, Dustin T. Swanda was sentenced to 151 months in prison in 2009 by the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota for methamphetamine trafficking. On December 31, 2020, Swanda was transferred to the Terre Haute Federal Correctional Institution. 

As correction officers conduct their routine security measures, which include physical checks of the bars and windows in each cell, inmates are asked to step out of the cell for a short time while officers conducted the search.

When the correctional officer came to Swanda’s cell, Swanda was asked to leave the cell and refused. The release states “the officer observed Swanda ‘moving like a zombie,’ making unintelligible noises, and staring at the wall.” The officer reported believing Swanda was under the influence in some manner and called for backup. 

As the officer instructed Swanda to leave the cell again, Swanda reportedly become volatile and continued to refuse, leading to the correctional officers having to physically engage Swanda. Swanda physically resisted the officers by kicking and punching them. One officer was taken to an area hospital for a broken finger. 

As the case was under investigation, the judge ordered Swanda to serve an additional 32 consecutive months and to pay a $500 fine.