LAFAYETTE, IN — Gentle Thomas Jr. faces charges of battery with a deadly weapon, a felony, and resisting law enforcement, a misdemeanor.
Thomas, 32, attacked deputy prosecutor Cole Payne, stabbing him with a small pencil during a hearing on July 9 in Tippecanoe Superior 5, according to the probable cause affidavit filed with the charges. The pencil went through Payne’s coat but did not puncture his shirt or skin, according to the affidavit.
Payne was seated at the prosecution table in the courtroom, which is only a few feet from the jury seats where the inmates were awaiting their hearings, according to the affidavit. Thomas was in the first seat of the second row, near the prosecution table. About three minutes after the court went on the record, Thomas stood up, took a few steps and lunged at Payne, according to the affidavit.
The courtroom bailiff grabbed Thomas, who fell to the floor, prosecutors said.
Bailiffs removed Thomas from the courtroom. He was taken back to the Tippecanoe County Jail and immediately shipped back to the Wabash Valley prison, according to Jail Commander Capt. Donnie Miller.
Thomas’ July 9 hearing was a petition for post-conviction relief.
If Thomas is convicted of battery with a deadly weapon, he faces one to six years in prison.
Three days before the outburst in the courtroom here, Thomas is accused of stabbing a Wabash Valley prison guard.
Currently, Thomas is scheduled to be released from prison in October 2030.
Tippecanoe County Prosecutor Patrick Harrington asked for a special prosecutor to avoid a conflict of interest because it was one of his deputies who was allegedly assaulted.
Former Tippecanoe County Prosecutor John Meyers was appointed special prosecutor.
Reach Ron Wilkins at rwilkins@jconline.com. Follow on Twitter: @RonWilkins2.
This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: Inmate charged with attacking Tippecanoe County deputy prosecutor in Lafayette courtroom
Reporting by Ron Wilkins, Lafayette Journal & Courier / Lafayette Journal & Courier
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