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South Central Region Jail Officer Brutalizes Pregnant Prisoner

posted by mat, Monday, August 30th, 2010

Aug. 29th.  Jacqueline witnessed a male Corrections Officer (CO) brutally attack a pregnant prisoner, unprovoked.  The following is an account of the brutality as given by Jacqueline.

While being transported to church on Sunday, the female prisoner had stopped to make sure another inmate was making it out of the pod for church.  While she was restrained with handcuffs for transport, a male CO slammed her head into the wall.  She was then lifted off the ground, over the man’s head and thrown to the floor, where she was beaten some more.  The woman that was attacked was still in the Medical Ward as of 10:00 p.m.  The other prisoners have filed grievances against the CO, but have received no word of the victim’s medical condition.  They fear she may lose her baby.  At this point the prisoners of pods A-7 and A-8, Jacqueline’s pod and the victim’s pod, are refusing all contact with male COs.

We at Climate Ground Zero call for an immediate investigation by the Kanawha County Prosecutor and all other relevant governmental agencies, and for charges to be filed against not only the perpetrator, but also any other jail employees who stood by and did nothing.  The charges should also reflect that the CO not only beat an inmate, but her unborn child as well.

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Brief Updates

2010-08-26 14:01:21Joe Hamsher has been released from jail after posting bond. He is on his way home. Sarah remains in the South Central Regional Jail.
2010-08-26 11:22:11Sarah and Joe have been arrested and charged with trespassing, obstruction and interference with a government process. They are being held at $5000 bail at the South Central Regional Jail.
2010-07-15 10:56:32Colin & Katie are being held at $2500 bail w/ bond option. They're charged with trespassing b, misdemeanor conspiracy, and obstructing police activity. Sophie & Jimmy also have those charges, alongside a fourth charge of littering. They are being held at 3500 w/ bond option. All have called and are doing ok!
2010-07-14 21:53:41Colin and Katie have been arrested and are in State Police custody. They seem to be doing fine. They stopped the highwall miner for four hours.

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Activists Get a Day in Court

posted by mat, Tuesday, August 24th, 2010

Anti-mountain removal activists Grace Williams and Tom Smyth appeared separately in Raleigh Co. Magistrate Court for actions against mountaintop removal and particularly against surface mining on Coal River Mountain.

Grace Williams was charged with trespassing, obstruction, conspiracy and littering for supporting activists that shut down a drill rig on Coal River Mountain last November.  Williams agreed today to plead guilty to trespassing and obstruction and was sentenced to 6 months unsupervised probation with a 30 day suspended sentence and $55 in fines, with consideration for time served by Magistrate Jones. Charges against her fellow support person, Laura von Dohlen are unresolved pending appeal to the Raleigh County Circuit Court.

Tom Smyth appeared in front of Magistrate Humphreys for the first time on charges of trespassing, obstruction and conspiracy.  Smyth was arrested attempting to deliver a Citizen’s Arrest Warrant for Chris Blanchard, President of Massey Energy subsidiary Marfork Coal.  Smyth and 2 others locked down inside Marfork main office in Pettus, W.Va., demanding a halt to blasting on Coal River Mountain.  Smyth spent two weeks in jail before posting a $5,000 bond.  Raleigh County Prosecutors offered Smyth an additional 16 days in jail for a total of 30 days, which Smyth rejected.  His bench trial date has not been set.  Fellow activist Joseph Hamsher was able to plea bargain for just 8 days time served.  The third activist, Mike Roselle, is awaiting his jury trial on October 20th.

Jacqueline Quimby sends her love and support to everyone from the South Central Regional Jail where she is serving a 60-day sentence.  She is standing strong and deeply appreciates all the letters and support.  She is trying to write everyone back, but has a limited number of stamps and envelopes.  You can send stamped envelopes in with your letters and it will be easier for her to get back to you!  Right now, all letters, cards and photos are making it through the mail just fine.  MAKE SURE you provide your full name and return address.  Mail has often been returned with out it. Books are making it through, but only if they are ordered directly from publisher and sent to her jail address.

Jacqueline urges everyone to keep fighting for the land and the people.  She is due to be released in early October.

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