A corrections officer at a state prison in Schuylkill County says he was jumped by two inmates earlier this year.
Court records show that on April 14, a corrections officer at SCI-Frackville said he found one of the two inmates involved in the alleged assault, Jason Mahecha, 23, was in an unauthorized area of the facility.
Mahecha, originally of York, is serving 6-20 years in state prison after pleading guilty to voluntary manslaughter. In November 2021, Mahecha shot and killed Elliott Thomas, of Minersville, in Lebanon.
As Mahecha was being escorted back to his cell, the corrections officer said that the inmate threatened him.
“You don’t know who you’re missing with,” Mahecha reportedly said. “You’re going to get yours.”
As they got closer to Mahecha’s cell, the inmate reportedly started acting abnormally so the corrections officer attempted to place him in handcuffs. Mahecha then spun around and attempted to get away.
At that time, a second inmate – identified as Fawn Workman, 29 – exited his cell and shoved the corrections officer to the ground.
Mahecha and Workman then allegedly punched and kicked the corrections officer multiple times. The assault was eventually broken up by other prison staff members.
During an interview with State Police investigating the incident, the corrections officer said he previously had no negative interactions with either inmate.
The corrections officer said he was treated at a nearby hospital for an abrasion to his right knee and pain in his neck, back, and head.
Mahecha has been charged with aggravated assault and making terroristic threats, both felonies, along with misdemeanor offenses of simple assault and resisting arrest, and a summary count of harassment.
Workman has been charged with felony aggravated assault, a misdemeanor count of simple assault, and a summary offense for harassment.
Workman is serving a 1-3-year sentence for unauthorized use of a motor vehicle. He began serving his sentence in November 2022.
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