An inmate at a state prison in Schuylkill County is facing new charges after he allegedly threw urine on a corrections officer.
Basil Johnson, 36, originally of Philadelphia and currently an inmate at SCI-Frackville, has been charged following an alleged incident on Dec. 27 within the prison’s Restricted Housing Unit.
Police say that at about 7:45 that night, a corrections officer was assisting a nurse handing out medications in the RHU. When they reached Johnson’s cell, the guard ordered him to turn on his light so he could get his medicine.
Johnson allegedly refused to turn on his light, despite the threat of being skipped over in receiving his meds. He then allegedly directed a homophobic slur at the guard and squirted a liquid at him, which was believed to be urine.
The urine reportedly hit the guard.
In response, a plexiglass shield was placed over Johnson’s cell door and water service to it was shut off. While the plexiglass was being installed, Johnson allegedly reached around it and squirted the guard another time.
The guard reported that one side of his body was soaked in pee.
During a sweep of Johnson’s cell, a milk carton was reportedly found. That carton contained a yellow/brown stain inside.
Police last week charged Johnson with felony counts of aggravated assault of a designated individual and aggravated harassment by a prisoner as well as misdemeanor counts of simple assault, reckless endangerment, and disorderly conduct and a summary count of harassment.
Johnson is scheduled to be arraigned on these charges in late-February.
The former Philadelphia man is in SCI-Frackville after a conviction on an illegal gun possession charge dating back to 2019. He is serving 5-12 years in state prison.
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