Jury finds Lawrence man guilty of spitting into the mouth of a corrections officer

Douglas County District Attorney Suzanne Valdez today announced that a jury found John T. Price, 36, of Lawrence, guilty Monday of battery against a law enforcement officer.

“Correctional officers accept one of the most difficult jobs in public safety,” District Attorney Valdez said. “I am committed to supporting a safe and secure workplace for these dedicated public servants who ensure the safety of staff, inmates and the public.”

Charges stemmed from an incident that occurred on September 16, 2022, when corrections officers at the Douglas County Correctional Facility were moving Price to the facility’s behavioral management housing unit. Price, who had been kicking his cell door and screaming, began yelling at an officer and then spit directly into the officer’s mouth.

Senior Assistant District Attorney David Greenwald represented the State of Kansas. The matter was investigated by the Douglas County Sheriff's Office.

Judge Stacey Donovan set Price’s sentencing for 3:30 p.m., on June 28, 2024, at the Douglas County Judicial and Law Enforcement Center.

Price faces between 31 and 136 months in the Kansas Department of Corrections.