Inmate gets 13 years added to his sentence for assault on guard

The violent inmate will be locked up until 2029.

STAFF REPORT

YOUNGSTOWN — An Ohio State Penitentiary inmate who used a sharp metal object to commit a felonious assault on a corrections officer there will be spending 13 additional years behind bars.

Judge R. Scott Krichbaum of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court sentenced Dajuan R. Burns, 23, to the extra prison time at a hearing last week.

In doing so, the judge adopted the sentencing recommendation of J. Michael Thompson, an assistant county prosecutor.

A jury of five men and seven women found Burns guilty Wednesday of possessing a deadly weapon while under detention and felonious assault on the corrections officer after a three-day trial.

Judge Krichbaum sentenced Burns to five years on the weapons charge and eight years on the felonious-assault charge. The sentences are to run consecutively.

They also will run consecutively to time Burns already is serving for assault, harassment, felonious assault and possessing a deadly weapon while under detention.

Burns’ release date, with the additional prison time for the new charges, is 2029.

Last week, the jury acquitted Burns of assault on another corrections officer and six counts of harassing people with bodily substances. The victims of the substance harassment were listed as two corrections lieutenants, three corrections officers and a civilian.

The charges of harassment with bodily substances said Burns expelled blood, semen, urine, feces or other bodily substances on the victims.

Burns made no statement at his sentencing. Burns was represented by Atty. Lynn Maro at sentencing, and the judge appointed Atty. Albert Palombaro to represent him in his appeal.