WILKES-BARRE, PA - Only one of three inmates who claimed they were assaulted by staff at the Luzerne County Correctional Facility was found credible, Warden Gene Fischi said Monday. The findings, announced at the county's prison board meeting, came following a recent internal investigation during which inmates Jose Sanchez, Jakhel Lamar and Jason Folweiler said they were assaulted.

“The main one was Lamar. He was the one that concerned me because I had some staff members come to me and say what was happening was outside our policies and procedures.”

Lamar alleged Capt. John “Vito” Corridoni ordered other correctional officers to forcibly remove him from his cell. He also alleged Corridoni punched him in the face several times. Corridoni was suspended in early April when allegations surfaced that he gave an inmate preferential treatment. After inmates Sanchez, Lamar and Folweiler claimed they were assaulted and mistreated by Corridoni and other staff, the prison board voted to fire Corridoni on April 25.

Fischi said no other prison employees would be fired or suspended in light of the internal investigation.

The warden said he became concerned about what happened to Lamar because no reports were filed about why the cell extraction took place.

“There were no reports on it and that's what got me upset,” Fischi said. “The captain orders the officers to write up reports and no one did. Lieutenants and officers came to me and verified what happened.”

Fischi said correctional staff used “justified” force in restraining Sanchez and Folweiler.

“I had reports on Sanchez and Folweiler that justified the use of force,” Fischi said. “All who were involved followed procedure.”

Folweiler claimed he was handcuffed and held face down in inches of dirty shower water for nearly 15 minutes.

“What Folweiler failed to say was he was spitting and being combative,” Deputy Warden Sam Hyder said. “We were restraining him. Claims of us holding him down in water are not true.”

Fischi said Folweiler was restrained in his own cell. Folweiler purposely blocked the toilette and caused it to overflow, the warden said.

“Folweiler flooded his own cell. He wasn't taken to the showers as he claimed,” Fischi said. “Officers just put him on the floor, his own floor. When I reviewed the reports of what happened, I found the officers acted appropriately.”

Sanchez accused Corridoni of threatening to kill him and punching him in the face. Sanchez claimed Corridoni caused swelling under one of his eyes and bloodied his lip. Fischi said Sanchez was being disorderly and refused to listen to commands to stop his unruly behavior.  Despite the internal investigation, Fischi said all three allegations by the three inmates were turned over to the district attorney's office.