By James Halpin
The Citizens’ Voice
WLKES-BARRE, Pa. — The prison riot trial of Anthony Locke concluded Tuesday with a county judge taking a day and a half of testimony under consideration.
Locke, 36, and others were charged with rioting for refusing to remove coverings from their cell doors and resisting guards during a controversial stand-off that took place at State Correctional Institution at Dallas on April 29, 2010.
The men were forcibly removed from their individual cells after extraction teams blasted them with pepper spray and forced open cell doors that had been jammed shut with mattresses and other materials.
During trial, prosecutors played video of the confrontation showing the men refusing to comply with commands. In one scene, co-defendant Andre Jacobs stares out at guards in riot gear, repeatedly saying, “I fear for my life and safety,” as guards order him to remove white cloth covering his face and head.
Defense attorney Ernie Preate noted the video shows the prisoners were not warned they faced cell extractions if they failed to comply. He also pointed out that Locke did appear to comply with specific commands — the video showed that Locke initially had an orange jumpsuit against his door, but that was replaced with a blue blanket when the psychologist came through and was removed altogether when Jacobs was removed from his cell.
Luzerne County Judge Lesa Gelb took the matter under advisement after a half day of testimony Tuesday and did not issue an immediate ruling in the bench trial.
She also signed an order this week setting a trial date of Aug. 24 for Jacobs, 32, as well as co-defendants Duane Peter, 41, and Carrington Keys, 34.