By James Halpin
The Citizens’ Voice
WILKES-BARRE — A State Correctional Institution at Retreat inmate who headbutted a guard down a set of stairs and spit in the face of another officer was sentenced this week to two to four years in prison.
Jeffrey Shipman, 21, was previously convicted of aggravated assault and aggravated harassment by a prisoner for separate incidents last year.
Prosecutors say Shipman, whose rap sheet includes convictions for aggravated assault and indecent assault, had his hands cuffed behind his back on Sept. 29, 2014, when he headbutted Correctional Officer Donald McGill in his right temple, sending both falling down the stairs. Shipman began kicking McGill while they lay on the floor, prosecutors said.
McGill was transported to Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center in Plains Township with a concussion.
A month earlier, Shipman was charged with spitting in the face of Correctional Officer Edward Osmulski. Shipman told police he spit on the correctional officer because he felt threatened, and because he was handcuffed, the only thing he could do was spit, saying he was frustrated, tired and “sick of all the (expletive) going on around here.”
Luzerne County Judge Michael T. Vough imposed the sentence on Shipman on Monday, making him eligible for boot camp. Shipman was ordered remanded to the Western Diagnostic Classification Center in Pittsburgh.