James Peter Thomas, Assaulting a Federal Prison Guard, Louisiana 2013

Convicted Inmate Sentenced to 176 Months in Prison for Brutal Assault on Federal Prison Guard

Alexandria, La. – James Peter Thomas, 32, of Phoenix, Ariz., has been sentenced to 176 months in prison and three years of supervised release for assaulting a federal prison guard, announced United States Attorney Stephanie A. Finley today.

The assault occurred on April 3, 2013, at the U.S. Penitentiary at Pollock, La., where Thomas was serving a 161-month combined sentence for brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence and assault resulting in serious bodily injury.

According to evidence presented at Thomas’s guilty plea, which was entered on June 18, 2013, two prison guards found Thomas and two other inmates drinking a homemade alcoholic beverage in a cell. One guard led Thomas and the other two inmates out of the cell, but Thomas returned later and began beating the guard who remained in the cell using a padlock tied to a belt. When another guard approached Thomas, he attacked that guard as well.

The officer Thomas initially attacked was brought to a nearby hospital where he was treated for four days in an intensive care unit. Thomas’s violent behavior was a clear indication of his disregard for authority and the safety of others.

The FBI and the U.S. Bureau of Prisons conducted the investigation, while Senior Litigation Counsel Joseph G. Jarzabek prosecuted the case.

Thomas’s sentence serves as a reminder that inmates who engage in violent behavior will be held accountable for their actions. The U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to work tirelessly to ensure that those who commit crimes behind bars are brought to justice.

Defendant’s Information: James Peter Thomas, 32, of Phoenix, Ariz.

Criminal Charges: Assaulting a federal prison guard

City and State: Alexandria, La.

Date: April 3, 2013

Sentence: 176 months in prison and three years of supervised release

About the U.S. Attorney’s Office: The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Louisiana is responsible for investigating and prosecuting federal crimes in the western part of the state.

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