An alleged member of a white supremacist organization pleaded not guilty to smuggling in a shank and stabbing a fellow federal inmate within a court holding cell earlier this month.
Under tight security, Lance Vanderstappen was rushed into the federal courthouse in Salt Lake City to appear before U.S. District Magistrate Judge David Nuffer this past week.
Appearing calm, Vanderstappen pleaded not guilty to attempt to commit murder and assault with a dangerous weapon. He was indicted last week.
A three-day trial has been scheduled for Oct. 5. Vanderstappen will remain in federal custody, Nuffer ordered.
Vanderstappen was sentenced to serve 63 months for one count of violence in aid of racketeering — assault with a dangerous weapon, for stabbing a Utah State Prison inmate using a shank in January 2001.
Shortly after being sentenced, U.S. Marshals said Vanderstappen "secreted" a shiv from within his body while in a court holding cell and began stabbing another federal inmate. The assault sent the inmate to the hospital with non-life-threatening wounds.
According to the U.S. Marshal's Office, Vanderstappen did not appear to know the man, and they suspect he was targeted because he was Hispanic.