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Indian River youth prison inmate charged with assault on staff

An 18-year-old inmate at the Indian River Juvenile Detention Center in Massillon has been charged with two counts of aggravated assault in connection with attacks that allegedly occurred at the facility late last year when he was 17 years old.

One of the beatings is said to have taken place on Christmas Day. The other in October led to the employee resigning.

Both attacks are said to have been directed against correctional officers at the prison operated by the Ohio Department of Youth Services.

Because the inmate was 17 at the time, the case was initially brought before juvenile court. Stark County Family Court Judge Rosemarie A. Hall ruled in July that the teen should be tried as an adult and transferred his case to Common Pleas Court.

Incidents in July: Assaults continue at Indian River Youth Prison in Massillon; investigations ongoing

New details on the Indian River attacks

Their ruling contains additional descriptions of what happened to the employees as set forth in the court testimony.

An Indian River worker said the defendant hit him about 20 times on Oct. 18, repeatedly hitting him in the head. He testified he suffered severe pain for about a month, with symptoms lasting two and a half to three months. He said he still suffers severe headaches and sensitivity to light. He said he was diagnosed with a concussion and abrasions on his neck, back and face.

He testified that he resigned from his job at the Massillon Youth Correctional Center because it was his second assault in less than a year.

The other alleged victim testified that the defendant attacked him when a door was opened while he was handing out Christmas dinner. He testified that he was punched in the face five to six times and suffered two to three blows to the rib area. He said he injured his head and suffered headaches, facial swelling, dizziness and nausea. He said he was diagnosed with a concussion and still suffers from headaches. He said he missed two weeks of work and performed only light duties for two weeks.

Children behind bars: Chaos, violence and neglect are the plague in youth prisons and youth correctional facilities

Further attacks on Indian River employees reported

Another juvenile correctional officer apparently suffered broken bones in an attack by two inmates in the hallway of a youth housing unit on July 26.

The Ohio State Highway Patrol's investigation report said the worker was “severely assaulted,” but details of the injuries were redacted in a copy of the report requested by The Repository.

The investigations by the highway police revealed that the youths had tampered with the doors so that they could be opened.

According to the report, the perpetrators struck the worker on the head and shoulders and attempted to push the victim into an inmate's room. One inmate took the worker's keys and let a third inmate out of his room. Two inmates attempted to push the worker into an inmate's room, but ended up back in the hallway.

The worker called for help after rescuing his radio that had fallen on the floor.

According to the report, charges were filed for aggravated assault and assault on a correctional officer.

A week earlier, on July 19, an inmate was charged with assault for pepper-spraying and spitting on a worker.

The incident occurred after the youth specialist opened the inmate's door to give him shoes. The highway patrol report states the inmate stormed out of his room and struck the staff member two punches. The inmate charged as if he was going to fight, but then retreated back into his room. The staff member then took pepper spray from his holster and moved closer to the inmate's door. The juvenile pushed him against a wall with all his strength and a struggle ensued. The inmate grabbed the can and sprayed the contents at the youth specialist.

Indian River and the state's other two youth prisons have been under scrutiny since the results of an eight-month investigation were released in November by The Cincinnati Enquirer, The Columbus Dispatch, The Akron Beacon Journal, The Canton Repository and USA TODAY's network of Ohio newspapers.

The report found that violence erupts without warning, leaving victims bloodied and scarred. Serious injuries and illnesses, and sometimes even deaths, go unnoticed or unreported for hours. The investigation found that guards struggle every day to maintain order, are overwhelmed, understaffed and fear for their safety.

Reach Nancy at 330-580-8382 or [email protected]. On X, formerly known as Twitter: @nmolnarTR.

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