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SALT LAKE CITY — Five inmates at the Utah State Prison are facing new charges for allegedly attacking both a corrections officer and another inmate.
On Nov. 1, at the Utah State Correctional Facility, 1480 North 8000 West, an officer was escorting an inmate into his section.
"When the door opened, a group of inmates rushed the door trying to get to (the inmate)," according to charging documents.
The officer and inmate "ran down the hall where they were trapped at the sally port door. (The inmate) slid to the ground in the corner as (the officer) stood in front of him," the charges state. The group "hit and punched" the officer in an effort to get past him.
One inmate rushed at the officer, "hitting him in the head and face approximately a dozen times before backing off," according to the charges. He then attempted to "stomp" on the inmate, but ended up punching the officer one more time.
Another inmate was able to stomp on the head of the inmate in corner as the officer tried fighting him off, the charges state. Other inmates were observed on surveillance video punching and kicking both the officer and inmate several times, the charges state.
Prosecutors say the inmate suffered "a cut ear and injuries to his face" while the officer "had injuries to his face and a broken tooth."
Joshua Huffaker, 26, was charged Monday in 3rd District Court with assault by a prisoner, a first-degree felony, due to prosecutors requesting he be classified as a habitual violent offender.
Omar Cortez-Izarraraz, 24, was charged with two counts of assault by a prisoner, and Emiliano Gomez, 22, one count of assault by a prisoner, all second-degree felonies.
Dalton James Romero, 29, and Gavin Nicholson, 22, are also listed as a co-defendants, but formal charges had not been filed against them as of Monday afternoon.
The problem of corrections officers being assaulted by inmates at the Utah State Prison received public attention following a string of incidents between late last year and early 2023.
