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SALT LAKE CITY — A sixth inmate has been charged in connection with the alleged assault of another inmate and a corrections officer in November, leaving the officer with a broken tooth and other facial injuries.
Arturo Sanchez, 28, was charged Monday in 3rd Distort Court with two counts of assault by a prisoner. Prosecutors are seeking to have Sanchez classified as a habitual offender, thus making the charges first-degree felonies.
On Nov. 1, at the Utah State Correctional Facility, 1480 N. 8000 West, an officer was escorting an inmate into his section. He requested that the secured door to the section be opened to return the inmate.
"When the door opened, a group of inmates rushed the door trying to get to (the inmate being escorted). (The officer) stood in front of (the inmate) who was huddling in the corner. The inmates hit and punched (the officer)" while trying to get to the inmate being escorted in, according to charging documents.
Investigators say "Sanchez rushed (the officer), hitting him in the head and face approximately a dozen times before backing off. Sanchez returned and attempted to stomp on (the inmate) but got (the officer) again and punched (the officer) one more time."
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."
Five others were charged in connection with the incident last week.
Sanchez has a history of violence, according to court records, including a 2021 conviction for participating in an assault on another inmate at the prison.
The problem of corrections officers being assaulted by inmates at the Utah State Prison received public attention following a string of incidents between late 2022 and early this year.
