Saunders County Man from Senator Fischer's Campaign Ad Sentenced to 18 Months in Prison

FREMONT, Neb. — Justin Herring, the convicted felon who was prominently featured in Republican Senator Deb Fischer's 2024 re-election campaign advertisement, has been sentenced to 18 months in prison on a single weapons charge, according to Nebraska Department of Correctional Services records.

The 45-year-old Herring received his sentence on July 31, 2025, in Saunders County Court after pleading no contest in May to attempted possession of a firearm by a prohibited person. He is currently housed at the Reception & Treatment Center with a projected release date of January 27, 2027.

Background: From Campaign Star to Criminal Defendant

Herring's case drew significant attention due to his prominent role in Fischer's hard-fought re-election campaign against independent challenger Don Osborn. The irony was not lost on political observers when the man featured in the senator's law-and-order messaging was arrested on multiple weapons charges just months after the campaign.

Justin and his wife Laura had been heavily involved in the Saunders County Republican Party until a fresh wave of leadership was elected in a 2024 referendum. Besides Senator Fischer, they had volunteered and/or campaigned for multiple elected officials including Don Bacon, Mike Flood, and Pete Ricketts.

In November 2024, Saunders County authorities arrested Herring after discovering a cache of weapons in his home. He was initially charged with 22 counts of weapons crimes, including multiple counts of possession of a deadly weapon by a prohibited person. If convicted on all original charges, Herring could have faced 3-50 years in prison.

Plea Deal Reduces Charges Dramatically

The case took a significant turn in May 2025 when Herring entered a no contest plea to a single, reduced charge of attempted possession of a firearm by a prohibited person. This plea deal eliminated 21 of the original 22 charges against him.

The sentencing documents show Herring received the minimum term under the offense guidelines, which carried a potential sentence range of 18 to 36 months. Early release for good behavior is set for 191 days into his sentence, meaning he will be eligible for parole as soon as February 2026. That seems relatively short for a two-time felon.

Questions Raised Over Lenient Outcome

The dramatic reduction in Herring's case—from 22 felony weapons charges that could have resulted in decades in prison to an 18-month sentence on a single attempted possession charge—has raised questions about whether his political connections influenced the outcome.

Herring went from facing a potential maximum of 50 years in prison on the original charges to receiving what amounts to the minimum possible sentence under his plea agreement. The plea deal eliminated 21 of the 22 original charges, including multiple counts of possession of a deadly weapon by a prohibited person.

The lenient resolution stands in stark contrast to the "tough on crime" messaging that Fischer's campaign promoted but critics have also questioned whether someone with such close ties to prominent political officials and influential donors lead to him receiving preferential treatment in the criminal justice system.

Lesson to be learned: it helps to know a federal elected official if you are going to commit a crime in Nebraska, or if you need a visa for an employee.