15 Charged In Prison Riot Earlier This Year

WORCESTER COUNTY, MA—A Worcester County grand jury handed up indictments last week against 15 current and former inmates at Souza-Baranowski Correctional Center stemming from a riot in January, according to Worcester County District Attorney Joseph D. Early, Jr.

The 15 men are each facing five charges including malicious destruction of property over $250, vandalism, disturbing a correctional institution, injury to a building during unlawful assembly, and injury to the property of a correctional institution, said the announcement. They will be arraigned in Worcester Superior Court on a future date.

The men were charged for their roles in a January 9 riot inside the Shirley prison where extensive damage was done to the Department of Corrections property.

Those charged are: Edwin Marrero, 24; Chad Hickey, 33; John Campbell, 32; Julio Leiva, 29; Luis Robles, 29; Jason Mullen, 37; Alexander Soto, 23; Eugenio Rivera, 31; John Walker, 25; Vincent Dzierwinski, 29; Thomas Tibbetts, 24; Manuel Eusebio, 38; Tyler Bassett, 30; Brendon Cain, 23; and Elizer Cruz, 28.

Officers lost control of the housing unit at the correctional facility in January when dozens of inmates refused to be locked in their cells, reports CBS Local. The uproar occurred after a fight between two inmates sparked unrest earlier in the afternoon, spurring other fights and ultimately, a riot.

Those charged in the incident will be arraigned in Worcester Superior Court on a future date.

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