LAFAYETTE, IN — A prisoner in court Wednesday morning allegedly assaulted a deputy prosecutor with a pencil inside Tippecanoe Superior 5.
Gentle Thomas Jr., 32, who is an inmate at the Wabash Valley prison, appeared for a hearing on his petition for post-conviction relief, Tippecanoe County Prosecutor Patrick Harrington said, noting that the incident is under investigation.
Thomas was shackled and handcuffed and led to the jury box to await his hearing inside the small, tight-spaced courtroom, Harrington said.
At some point before his hearing, Thomas stood up and walked behind the deputy prosecutor, who was sitting at the table near the jury box, Harrington said. Thomas allegedly stabbed the deputy prosecutor with a small pencil, similar to a pencil used at golf courses, Harrington said.
“Our attorney felt some pressure in his back,” Harrington said.
The deputy prosecutor stood up and shoved Thomas to the ground, and he noticed the small pencil on the floor, Harrington said. Courthouse bailiffs in the courtroom quickly reacted.
Superior 5 Judge Kristen McVey noticed the commotion and tossed the deputy prosecutor a can of Febreze air freshener in case the prosecutor needed to spray Thomas’ face to distract him from his alleged assault, Harrington said.
The deputy prosecutor’s jacket was punctured, but not his shirt, Harrington said.
When the investigation is complete, Harrington said he will ask for a special prosecutor to decide whether Thomas will be charged.
“Our attorneys and staff are always in a position where they could be at risk,” Harrington said of the prosecutors, as well as public defenders and defense attorneys.
After reviewing initial reports of the incident, Tippecanoe County Sheriff Bob Goldsmith confirmed Harrington’s accounts of the events and the bailiffs’ quick response.
“I know the bailiffs have a lot on their plate,” Goldsmith said, “but they do a great job. I’m always proud of the work they do.”
Thomas was transferred from the Tippecanoe County Jail barely an hour after the incident, Tippecanoe County sheriff’s Capt. Tom Lehman said.
Thomas is serving time for convictions in Lake, Hamilton, Tippecanoe and Sullivan counties, including a conviction of battery against a public safety official in Sullivan County, according to Indiana Department of Correction and court records. His earliest release date is Oct. 9, 2030.
Reach Ron Wilkins at rwilkins@jconline.com. Follow on Twitter: @RonWilkins2.
This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: Defendant suspected of attacking Tippecanoe County deputy prosecutor inside courtroom
Reporting by Ron Wilkins, Lafayette Journal & Courier / Lafayette Journal & Courier
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