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SOUTH SALT LAKE — A Salt Lake County Jail inmate accused of stabbing a deputy in the neck with a pencil has been charged.
Rodrigo Caballero, of South Salt Lake, was charged Monday in 3rd District Court with aggravated assault by a prisoner, a second-degree felony.
On July 14, Salt Lake County Jail officer Nick Weekes opened the door of Caballero's cell, and the inmate was standing at the door waiting to come out for recreation time, according to charging documents and jail officials.
As soon as the door opened, the officer "immediately felt something strike him in the lower part of his neck," the charges state. Caballero ran back into his cell as Weekes grabbed his pepper spray.
Caballero, 33, then attempted to knock the pepper spray out of Weekes' hand, according to the charges.
Other deputies came to assist Weekes and handcuffed Caballero, who also goes by "Joker" and "Sniper." The others noticed that Weekes was bleeding and soon realized he had been stabbed in the neck with a pencil, the report stated. His injuries were not life-threatening.
Caballero is also facing charges in 3rd District Court of drug possession and possession of a forgery device, all third-degree felonies; and burglary in another case, a second-degree felony.
Court records show Caballero has an extensive criminal history with numerous theft and drug-related charges.
