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| 4 indicted in Lackawanna inmate assaults |
| By Associated Press |
| Published: 03/29/2004 |
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Four men were indicted by Lackawanna County (Pa.) grand jury Friday on charges stemming from inmates' allegations that they were beaten at the county prison. After a five-month investigation, the grand jury returned the indictments against former Lackawanna County prison officer James Tolan, of Scranton, and current officers Robert Jones, of Carbondale; Barry Craven, of Olyphant; and Lee Scarabotti, of Jessup. Tolan is charged with multiple counts of conspiracy and assault in the alleged beatings of inmates Ronald Knight, Thomas Bohenek and Benjamin Bloom. Jones and Craven are charged with conspiracy and assault in the alleged attack on Knight. The grand jury also recommended obstruction of justice charges against all four men for allegedly "stonewalling" the grand jury, District Attorney Andrew Jarbola III said. The men have denied all of the charges. Jarbola convened the grand jury in December to investigate allegations made by several inmates who claimed they were beaten by officers. Knight alleged that Tolan beat him up twice in 2003, and that Jones and Craven participated in one of the beatings. The inmate testified that he was kicked, punched and stomped with such force that he was left with bruises shaped like boot prints. Knight, of Moscow, is one of several current and former inmates who claim being victimized by officers. At least nine civil rights lawsuits have been filed since July. Tolan was arraigned and held on $50,000 bail, and Jones and Scarabotti were arraigned and released, Jarbola said. Scarabotti was out of the area but was arranging to turn himself in next week, Jarbola said. |
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