3 Inmates Facing Charges In Attack On Correction Officers At MA Prison

LANCASTER, MA — Three inmates from the Souza-Baranowski Correctional Center in Massachusetts are facing criminal charges in court for their involvement in an attack that injured five correctional officers earlier this month, officials said Saturday.

The criminal complaints were issued Friday, according to the Massachusetts Department of Correction.

Jose R. Crespo, 39, Heriberto Rivera-Negron, 36, and Jeffrey Tapia, 30, are facing charges of mayhem, armed assault to murder, and assault to murder. They are set to be arraigned Oct. 11, Oct. 10, and Oct. 15, respectively.

The attack occurred on the evening of Sept. 18, when the Massachusetts Department of Correction first received a report of two correction officers stabbed multiple times by inmates inside the Souza-Baranowski Correctional Center.

After responding to address the assault, three additional correction officers were injured, officials said. A total of five correction officers were transported to nearby hospitals for treatment.

“Attacks against our officers will not be tolerated and the serious charges filed against the three individuals demonstrate that the Massachusetts Department of Corrections will take action," Interim Department of Corrections Commissioner Shawn Jenkins said Saturday. "This type of violence is unacceptable and now those involved will be held accountable in the court of law."

Jenkins continued: "We have and will continue to make the safety and health of our Correctional Officers a priority and appreciate their dedication to the DOC and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Our investigators worked tirelessly since the incident occurred to bring these charges forward."