By C1 Staff
HOUTZDALE, Pa. — One of three inmates charged in a 2015 riot was sentenced Tuesday to 35-70 years in prison.
Norman Wothman, 52, refused to appear in court for sentencing because he did not want to hear the presiding judge’s argument, Gant Daily reported. Wothman pleaded guilty to three counts each of aggravated assault, criminal conspiracy/aggravated assault, assault by prisoner, criminal conspiracy/assault by prisoner, as well as one count each of riot, criminal conspiracy/riot, simple assault, criminal conspiracy/simple assault, disorderly conduct, criminal conspiracy/disorderly conduct and harassment.
“I don’t care about the charges or any other charges. I will just plead guilty. I am done,” Wothman told the judge.
While a CO was intervening, Wothman hit the officer “so hard his hat flew off,” according to the publication.
District Attorney William A. Shaw Jr. said the five COs involved in the riot are permanently injured and said the violence was so bad that it is “fortunate an officer is not dead.”
Wothman is currently serving 70 to 140 years, but Shaw asked the judge to sentence Wothman appropriately to signal to other inmates that assaulting officers is unacceptable.