PAINT TWP., Pa. (EYT) — An inmate at the Clarion County Jail is now facing aggravated assault charges following an incident at the jail.
According to court documents, criminal charges were filed against 34-year-old Judson Jondell Jones.
According to a criminal complaint, Clarion County Corrections Officers provided written statements to Deputy Warden David Sprankle in reference to an assault. According to the statements, around 8:00 p.m. on January 20, a corrections officer heard loud noises coming from E Block. He looked through the glass and observed inmate Judson Jones punching an individual on the ground. Once corrections officers entered E Block, they noticed Jones trying to pull the inmate into a cell, but he stopped when he saw them approaching.
Video footage of the incident was obtained from the jail. The video showed the victim sitting on the lower level of E Block watching TV. Jones approached the victim and got in his face. The two separated, and Jones went to the top tier while the victim remained seated watching TV. The victim then got up and approached Jones in the top tier. Jones pushed the victim, and the victim approached Jones again. Jones then slammed the victim into the wall and off of the railing before taking the victim to the ground, the complaint states.
Deputy Warden Sprankle also provided photographs of the victim’s injuries. A cut on the top of the victim’s head, scratches and abrasions to the right and left side of the victim’s face and his right ear, abrasions under his left armpit, and bruising on his left hip and back were observed.
Around 11:25 a.m. on January 25, the investigating officer attempted to interview Jones. Jones entered the interview room, and the officer asked him if he wanted to talk about the incident. Jones responded that he did not want to talk to the officer without a lawyer present. The interview was ended, the complaint indicates.
According to the complaint, the investigating officer interviewed the victim at the hospital. The victim stated that “Jones had approached him while he was watching TV and accused him of making racist comments. The victim said that he went upstairs to confront Jones about the incident because he did not want to constantly ‘look over (his) shoulder and wonder when it is going to happen.’ The victim said that he did not want to fight with Jones because Jones is much bigger than he is.”
The victim’s medical records indicated that he had a collapsed left lung and a chest tube had to be inserted, the complaint states.
Based on the investigation, Jones was arraigned at 10:19 a.m. on February 8 in the office of Magisterial District Judge Timothy P. Schill on the following charges:
– Aggravated Assault, Felony 1
– Simple Assault, Misdemeanor 2
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. on February 13, with Judge Schill presiding.
Another case against Jones for DUI- Controlled Substance-Impaired Ability was transferred to Clarion County Court of Common Pleas and is working its way through the system.
