A Schuylkill County man accused of assaulting a fellow inmate in prison over an alleged arson incident waived his right to a preliminary hearing on Monday.
Shawn Cicero Jr., 31, of Pottsville, faces felony charges of aggravated assault and assault by a prisoner on another. He is currently being held at Schuylkill County Prison, unable to post $20,000 bail set by Magisterial District Judge James Reiley.
Pottsville police allege Cicero repeatedly punched Travis Thompson in the face inside a medical unit cell at about 7:30 p.m. on May 27. Cicero told police he assaulted Thompson over a fire he believes Thompson started near Cicero’s family home about a year ago.
Thompson had recently been incarcerated on multiple felony arson charges related to a separate house fire in Pottsville earlier that same day.
Police interviewed Thompson the day after the prison assault. Thompson told investigators that when the two were placed in the cell together, he asked for his new cellmate’s name. Police say Cicero replied that he didn’t have a name, which Thompson remarked was weird.
Cicero then allegedly told Thompson to stand up. When he did, Cicero began punching him in the face. Thompson told police he was hit several times and never attempted to fight back.
Police say they reviewed video footage from cameras inside the medical cell. According to police, the video shows Thompson standing up before Cicero “just unleash[es] on him throwing several punches to his face.” The footage shows Thompson falling to the ground and crawling into his bed for safety, police say. Cicero remained standing before dropping to his knees when corrections officers arrived to stop the assault.
Thompson was evaluated at Geisinger-St. Luke’s Hospital in Orwigsburg, where police say he was diagnosed with a broken nose and other bruises.
During an interview with police on May 28, Cicero allegedly admitted to striking Thompson. Cicero’s case now advances to Schuylkill County Court of Common Pleas.
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