Inmate charged
An inmate serving a 30-year sentence at State Correctional Institution at Greene for attempted murder was charged Friday with attacking a corrections officer and threatening to kill him.
Christopher Easter, 25, of Philadelphia, was charged with aggravated assault, terroristic threats, simple assault and harassment for allegedly punching corrections officer David W. Horne Jr., 32, in the face several times the night of July 6, causing injuries that required hospital treatment, according to the criminal complaint.
Horne told police he was working a 2 to 10 p.m. shift and was assigned to the block of the prison where Easter was located. Horne told police when he noticed Easter was in the wrong cell, he asked him to return to his cell, but Easter refused.
After Horne called for backup, Easter allegedly punched him in the mouth. Horne then backed away from Easter, but Easter followed him and allegedly punched Horne in the back of the head multiple times before Horne fell to the ground, the complaint said.
Easter allegedly said to Horne, “I’m going to kill you, boy,” and punched him in the face again before other officers arrived and handcuffed Easter.
Horne was taken to WHS-Greene hospital for a damaged front tooth and a bloody lip and nose.
He was released the same night, according to court documents.
Horne told police he worked in that block of the prison before, but never had any problems with Easter, who was sentenced to 30 to 60 years in prison in 2012 for attempted murder.
Easter pleaded guilty in the holdup of a stranger he met on the street. Easter demanded the man’s wallet, then shot him in the neck, leaving him a quadriplegic, according to news accounts from 2012.
Easter, who’s still at SCI-Greene, will be arraigned before District Judge Glenn Bates on the aggravated assault charges Aug. 3.