Crime Stoppers: Two inmates behind bars for setting a fellow prisoner ablaze in a heinous Ottawa County Jail incident.
This week, U.S. District Judge Gregory K. Frizzell handed down the harsh verdicts for Justin Randall Gering, 30, of Fairland, and Tyler Levi Tavis, 23, of Miami, who were found guilty of Arson of Property of an Institution and Organization Receiving Federal Financial Assistance. The duo will serve 60 months of imprisonment, followed by 1 year of supervised release.
According to court records, the depraved act occurred in December 2022, when Tavis and Gering, who were being held at the Ottawa County Jail, were caught on video surveillance wrapping a sleeping inmate in toilet paper and setting it on fire. Miraculously, the inmate was covered by a county-issued fire-retardant blanket, which prevented severe burns. Quick-thinking fellow inmates responded to put out the flames, containing the damage to the jail.
Assistant U.S. Attorney George Jiang led the prosecution of the case, with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office conducting the investigation. Both Gering and Tavis will remain in custody pending their transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.
The heinous crime has left the Ottawa County community shaken. “This senseless act of violence in a place of confinement is a stark reminder of the dangers that lurk in our correctional facilities,” said a source close to the investigation. “We must ensure that those responsible are held accountable for their actions.”
As the community continues to reel from this shocking incident, Grimy Times will continue to follow this story and provide updates as more information becomes available. Our thoughts are with the victim and their family in this difficult time.
Related Federal Cases
- Tommy Dean Bullcoming Gets Life for Murder, Arson in Indian Country · Oklahoma
- Joseph Allen Hernandez Guilty of Double Murder, Arson in Indian Country · Oklahoma
- Toilet Paper Torches: Fairland Duo Jailed for Ottawa County Jail Arson · Oklahoma
- Del City Man Doused in Arson, Guilty of Threats over Cell Phone · Oklahoma
- Del City Man Convicted of Arson and Threats over Cell Phone · Oklahoma
Key Facts
- State: Oklahoma
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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