photo by: Chris Conde/Journal-World

Jackson Eugene Brouhard is pictured during his sentencing hearing on April 3, 2023, in Douglas County District Court. Brouhard was convicted of reckless aggravated battery in connection with an attack on an off-duty police officer.

A Lawrence man was sentenced to 3 years of probation on Monday in Douglas County District Court in connection with an attack on an off-duty Lawrence police officer.

The man, Jackson Eugene Brouhard, 20, was convicted of one felony count of reckless aggravated battery for an incident around 2 a.m. on Nov. 4, 2022, when he and four others are accused of attacking Lawrence police officer Austin Corbitt with a tire iron before chasing Corbitt with their car and firing a gun at him, as the Journal-World has reported.

Brouhard pleaded guilty on Feb. 2 as part of a plea agreement with the state.

Brouhard’s defense attorney, Adam Zentner, said Monday that Brouhard acted the way he did during the incident due to peer pressure and that while that should not minimize the severity of his crime, it should be considered when weighing Brouhard’s culpability in the attack. He said that Brouhard only stopped the vehicle at the request of others in the car.

“He is the one who drove the car and who pulled over,” Zentner said.

Zentner said that if granted probation Brouhard would pursue a GED program, which could help resolve his problem with peer pressure by increasing his education level and by helping him secure a job. In addition to the GED program, Zentner said that Brouhard’s age and lack of a criminal history were reasons he should be granted probation.

Brouhard, during Monday’s hearing, said he was sorry to the officer and apologized for stopping the car that night.

“I was hanging out with the wrong crowd, but that doesn’t excuse my actions. I shouldn’t have stopped the car,” Brouhard said.

Judge Stacey Donovan said that she agreed with Zentner that more education would be key to ensuring that Brouhard does not re-offend.

“You absolutely need an education to prevent you from coming back here,” Donovan said.

Donovan sentenced Brouhard to 34 months in prison, which she then suspended to 36 months, or three years, of probation, in accordance with Kansas sentencing guidelines. She also ordered Brouhard to enroll in the Lawrence Diploma-Completion Program in May.

Brouhard has been free on a $50,000 own-recognizance bond, meaning he was not required to put up any money to be released from jail.

Another defendant in the case, Addison Jon Leo Giullian, 19, of Lawrence, pleaded guilty to aggravated assault with a deadly weapon on March 28. He is scheduled to be sentenced on May 26 and has been free on a $50,000 cash or surety bond.

A juvenile, who is now an adult and who was charged in the case, pleaded no contest to one felony count of aggravated battery on March 2. He is scheduled to be sentenced on April 13 and is not currently in custody.

The remaining defendants are Zachary Taylor Maddux, 18, of Lawrence, and Xaviar Dean Anderson, 19, of Pomona.

Maddux is charged with attempted murder and is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on May 15; he is currently being held on a $250,000 cash or surety bond.

Anderson was ordered to stand trial after a preliminary hearing on aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, conspiracy to commit aggravated battery and aggravated intimidation of a witness, all felonies. He is scheduled for a status conference on Tuesday. His trial has yet to be scheduled. He is currently free on a $75,000 cash or surety bond.