By Dave Rogers
The Daily News
NEWBURYPORT, Mass. — An inmate awaiting trial for numerous charges was able smuggle a weapon into Newburyport District Court and use it to harm herself yesterday morning, according to multiple law enforcement officials.
The male inmate, who considers himself a female and goes by the name Debbie Moccia, had come from the Middleton House of Corrections overseen by the Essex County Sheriff’s Department. According to law enforcement, Moccia had altered a piece of plastic into a razor blade-like instrument and hid it inside a body cavity before being transported to the courthouse.
The alarming incident took place around 11 a.m. far beneath the main courtroom where Judge Allen Swan was presiding. The inmate was able to cut herself up and down her arms in several places before the weapon was wrestled away from her.
An Action Ambulance crew, with assistance from Newburyport police and fire officials, strapped the inmate onto a stretcher and transported her to Anna Jaques Hospital for evaluation and treatment.
Essex County Deputy Sheriff Mo Pratt couldn’t confirm how Moccia was able to produce a weapon shortly after her arrival at the courthouse, saying his office was still investigating the incident. He added that all inmates are subject to a full body search before leaving the house of correction.
“We’re always concerned when something like this happens,” Pratt said.
According to Pratt, Moccia sustained non-life threatening injuries and was immediately taken into custody by his department. As of 2:30 p.m. yesterday, she was still in the hospital.
Court records indicate that the 58-year-old Moccia, formerly of Lawrence, is facing several charges, including threatening to commit murder, open and gross lewdness, a civil rights violation and other serious offenses. In January 2013, Moccia allegedly threatened to kill a woman while inside Lawrence District Court. She is also accused of threatening a district court judge, among other incidents.
Copyright 2014 The Daily News of Newburyport