(KAIR)--A former Leavenworth inmate is sentenced to federal prison for attacking a Leavenworth prison guard with a pair of scissors.

According to a news release from the office of U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister, 27-year-old Richard James, Jr. was sentenced to 15-years in prison Wednesday, and must also pay restitution of more than $18,000.

James, who is in federal custody, pleaded guilty to one count of assaulting a federal officer.

In his plea, James admitted to attacking Joseph Brian Wilson, identified in the news release as a unit manager for the U.S. Bureau of Prisons. James in the plea, admitted to sharpening the ends of a pair of grooming scissors which he used for the attack, which required corrections officers to pull James off of Wilson in order to stop it.

James later told investigators he hoped the attack would mean he'd be moved to another prison because he wanted a “change of scenery.”