Patrick Buchnowski
The Tribune-Democrat, Johnstown, Pa.
SOMERSET, Pa. – A former inmate at SCI-Somerset was sentenced in county court on Thursday to serve one to two years in state prison for assaulting a corrections officer last year.
President Judge D. Gregory Geary handed down the sentence to Khayree Mahleek Murray, 29, who pleaded guilty to simple assault.
Murray said little while standing at the podium, flanked by a sheriff’s deputy.
“You have the right to address the court,” Geary said.
“Is there anything you would like to say?”
“No,” Murray said.
According to state police in Somerset, an officer at SCI-Somerset was collecting food trays that were slid through an aperture in the door when Murray stuck his arm through the opening and doused the officer with a cup of urine and feces, hitting him in the side of the head.
A nurse at the prison treated the officer.
District Attorney Lisa Lazzari-Strasiser said she was pleased with the sentence.
“It sent a message to not only the inmates but also to the officers that we are concerned about their safety,” she said.
“Not just assaults, but realistically, body fluids can cause lifelong medical conditions if they’re contaminated.”
A charge of aggravated assault by a prisoner was withdrawn. Murray represented himself in court.
Murray had been serving a six- to 10-year sentence for aggravated assault out of Philadelphia County. He was paroled in August 2013 and was returned to prison in June 2014 for violating parole, state Department of Corrections said.
He was housed at SCI-Greene.
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©2019 The Tribune-Democrat (Johnstown, Pa.)