OMAHA, Nebraska – A Nebraska man has pleaded guilty to four counts of making terroristic threats during a shooting spree in 2022. Prosecutors say the charges went too far.

John Channels, 29, of Omaha, made the confession Tuesday as part of a plea deal with prosecutors, the Omaha World-Herald reported. As part of the deal, prosecutors dropped a charge of using a firearm to commit a crime.

According to police, Channels showed up at Omaha Catholic Charities wearing a black hoodie and mask and firing blanks from a semi-automatic pistol. Authorities said he staged “victims” who were covered in fake blood and appeared to be wounded or killed.

The charity hired Channel, the owner of a security company who claimed to be a “civilian police officer,” to test the readiness of its employees for such an attack. According to a police affidavit, Channel told his employers at Omaha Catholic Charities that he had conducted other school shooting drills and that police officers would be present at the drill.

But neither police nor employees were warned in advance. The fake shooting sent employees running for their lives, and officers responded to panicked cries for help with guns drawn.

Douglas County District Attorney Don Kleine had previously stated that the exercise could have had dire consequences – such as an employee suffering a heart attack or Channels himself being shot by another person or a police officer.

One worker sued the charity, claiming she injured her back during her escape and had been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder. A judge dismissed her claim last year and ruled that the case should go to the employment tribunal.

In a separate case, Channels also pleaded guilty Wednesday to first-degree sexual assault, first-degree sexual assault of a child and possession of child sexual abuse material. As part of that deal, prosecutors dropped an additional 22 counts of possession of child sexual abuse material and sexual assault.

He will be sentenced to a prison term of between 21 years and life imprisonment on October 25.