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| Inmate Charged with Assaulting Another Inmate with Scalding Water |
| By Associated Press |
| Published: 11/25/2002 |
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An inmate at the Vermont state prison allegedly threw a bucket of scalding water on another inmate, leaving him with severe chest burns. Alfred J. Churchwell, 34, of Naples, Fla., pleaded innocent Thursday in District Court to a charge of aggravated assault resulting in serious bodily injury. Calvin ''Drama'' Alexander, 20, of Rutland, was treated at Fletcher Allen Health Care in Burlington for his burns and has been moved to a jail in Newport, according to police. Alexander suffered second-degree burns on 10 percent of his body, according to court records. ''This demonstrates that (Churchwell) is a threat to individuals, even in a correctional facility,'' Deputy State's Attorney Peter Neary said Thursday in court. Defense attorney Michael Straub said that, according to the allegations, it was Alexander who started the altercation, not his client. ''To the extent that it took place at all, it appears that Mr. Alexander is the one that got in Mr. Churchwell's face,'' Straub said. Straub later had to step aside when he learned he represented one of the inmates who allegedly witnessed the incident and provided a statement to police. Churchwell was being held for lack of $500 bail on a larceny charge. The incident allegedly occurred Tuesday, according to an affidavit by state police Detective James Cruise. Alexander told police that just before lunch he noticed Churchwell picking on a smaller inmate and told him to stop, Cruise wrote. A correctional officer then stepped in and broke up the argument, and led them to lunch. Alexander told police he saw Churchwell by the stairs with a bucket after lunch, the detective wrote. Alexander told police Churchwell said something then threw the bucket of water at his chest, burning his skin, according to the affidavit. Alexander had been jailed last week for lack of $7,500 bail after his arrest on a burglary charge. A correctional officer told police that Churchwell got the water from a coffee maker, where the water temperature later was measured at 180 degrees, the affidavit said. Another inmate, George Sparks, 42, of Rutland, held on several charges including escape from furlough, told police that he saw Churchwell throw the scalding water on Alexander and then begin punching him in the face and chest. The aggravated assault charge carries a maximum possible penalty of up to 15 years in jail. |
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