Inmates face charges after prison assaults

Three Carbon County inmates faces more charges after incidents that happened at the prison.

The first incident happened on June 17.

Nesquehoning police charged Julian Javier Santiago, 28, of Brooklyn, New York, with aggravated assault, assault by prisoner, simple assault and harassment; and Ryan Keith Dillman, 31, of Little Gap, with simple assault and harassment after the two assaulted each other.

According to the affidavit, borough police Chief Sean Smith was contacted by the correctional facility after an inmate was assaulted by several other inmates. The victim, identified as Dillman, suffered two knocked-out teeth, while one of the inmates involved in the assault got punched in the face by the victim.

Dillman told officers that he was jumped by Santiago and another inmate in the bathroom. Earlier that evening, Dillman and another inmate got into an altercation in the bunk area after Dillman was accused of defecating in the other inmate’s drinking cup.

One of the alleged aggressors told Smith that there were four or five people in the bathroom at the time and admitted punching the victim, but he left before the assault occurred, but would not give further details.

Charges are pending against the third inmate involved in the incident.

The second incident, which occurred on July 17, involved Brandon Michael Mendez, 25, of Jim Thorpe.

According to the affidavit filed by Nesquehoning police Chief Sean Smith, he was dispatched to the prison after receiving word of an inmate with drugs.

He spoke with adult probation officers, who arrested Mendez for probation violations.

Upon intake, a correctional officer completed a strip search of Mendez, and a baggie filled with 4 grams of heroin fell from the waistband of his pants.

He was charged with contraband and possession of a controlled substance.