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Inmate sentenced for his role in group attack on fellow inmate

By Susy Kelly skelly@heraldstandard.Com 2 min read
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A Uniontown man was sentenced in Fayette County Court on Thursday to three to 12 months in jail for his role in a group assault on an inmate at the county jail in December.

Cody Darrell, 20, pleaded guilty to simple assault and harassment in exchange for a three- to 12-month sentence and dismissal of two other counts, assault by a prisoner and conspiracy to commit indecent assault.

The sentence from the jail assault will be served concurrently with sentences Darrell is already serving in two other unrelated cases — a robbery, which netted him two-and-a-half to five years and an aggravated assault for which he is serving three to six years.

Judge Steve P. Leskinen noted that although this sentence does not add to the cumulative total, it will have some bearing on when he is ultimately released.

“It’s essentially just a factor the parole board will consider in determining his actual parole date,” said Leskinen.

Juanya Knopsnider, 19, and Antoine Baker, 21, were also charged in the incident. Both have pleaded guilty. Knopsnider is expected to be sentenced to up to a year for his role, and Baker was sentenced in May and granted early parole June 2.

According to the affidavit of probable cause filed with the charges, fellow inmate Bryan Price was allegedly assaulted by the three men after being called to Baker’s cell at the county prison.

In addition to the three men punching and kicking Price, Baker reportedly put on a black latex glove, but Price told investigators he managed to get out of the cell before being further assaulted.

Darrell faces charges in another inmate assault that took place shortly after the assault on Price. In the second assault, Darrell allegedly attacked 34-year-old Michael Edgar, who lost his eye as a result.

Darrell will be tried on charges of aggravated assault, simple assault and harassment in that case.

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