By Mark Gilger
The News-Item
COAL TOWNSHIP — A county inmate awaiting transfer to begin a state prison sentence claims a threatened hunger strike was called off earlier this month after prisoners reached a “mutual agreement” not to subject themselves to health concerns while seeking fair treatment from prison staff.
In a letter sent to The News-Item, Nathan Reigle, a county inmate housed at SCI-Coal Township, said prisoner concerns have been presented to county prison board members. He said, “We are giving them seven business days to look into inmate complaints occurring at the Northumberland County housing unit.”
Reigle claimed seven inmates will be filing a class action lawsuit against Northumberland County Prison Warden Bruce Kovach and prison board members concerning violations of their rights.
Kovach reserved comment about Reigle’s claims.
Earlier this month, county inmate Michael McGinley sent a letter to The News-Item claiming a “peaceful” hunger strike was being planned at SCI-Coal Township to protest what he claimed was unfair treatment.
A letter dated two days later from state inmate Billy Joe Metcalf claimed prisoners at SCI-Coal Township were already on a hunger strike.
No hunger strike reportedly occurred at the prison.
County inmates have been housed in a section of the state correctional institution since a Jan. 14 fire heavily damaged the 139-year-old jail in Sunbury, and they’ve been vocal about claims of a poor transition to services and treatment to which they were accustomed.