JENKS TWP., Pa. (EYT) — An inmate at SCI Forest is facing assault charges following an incident where he allegedly attacked a facility staff member.
Court documents indicate Marienville-based State Police filed the following criminal charges against 27-year-old William Cramer in Judge Daniel L. Miller’s office:
- Assault By Prisoner
- Aggravated Assault, Felony 1
- Assault By Prisoner, Felony 2
- Aggravated Assault, Felony 2
- Simple Assault, Misdemeanor 2
- Criminal Mischief — Damage Property, Summary
According to a criminal complaint, on September 29, State Police in Marienville were contacted by SCI Forest Captain Stonebraker in reference to a staff assault which had taken place around 5:30 p.m. on September 29.
On October 3, Trooper Nicewonger responded to SCI Forest to investigate. SCI Forest Lieutenant Davis relinquished evidence associated with the investigation including a blood pressure cuff, a broken watch, and a makeshift cutting weapon. Lieutenant Davis also provided video footage of the assault.
According to the complaint, the video viewed by Trooper Nicewonger depicted SCI Forest inmate William Cramer abruptly pulling the arm of an employee of the facility through the “wicket” of the cell. The victim was then heard saying “he cut me” before managing to remove her arm from Cramer’s grasp. Cramer was then seen yelling obscenities and taunting the victim.
Trooper Nicewonger spoke to the victim by phone on October 4.
According to the complaint, the victim said she was instructed to perform a medical evaluation on Cramer, who was complaining of stomach pain and related symptoms. The victim noted she was aware of how dangerous Cramer is and had been previously instructed not to touch him.
The victim reported that when she approached Cramer, he told her he was sick. She said that she arrived at the cell with Lieutenant Flockerzi and Corrections Officer Mason and related that she took Cramer’s temperature with an oral thermometer without incident, but then decided she needed to check his blood pressure.
According to the complaint, the victim stated that when she attempted to wrap the blood pressure cuff around Cramer’s arm, he pulled her arm through the “wicket” of the cell and cut her right arm. She said everything “happened so fast” but she was able to pull her arm back through the “wicket”. When she pulled her arm back, she noticed that she had been cut and stated that when Cramer pulled her arm through the “wicket” he removed her watch, valued at $100.00, and destroyed it.
The victim was taken to UPMC Kane for treatment of her injuries. which required stitches.
The complaint notes that Cramer is currently serving a life sentence at SCI Forest.
Court documents indicate that Cramer was found guilty of first-degree murder in 2013 and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
A preliminary hearing has not yet been scheduled.
