An inmate already serving a life sentence for first-degree murder has been found guilty of assaulting correctional officers at the Morgan County Correctional Complex, including one officer who was seven months pregnant at the time. Dolwin Cormia, 54, was convicted of one count of aggravated assault and three counts of simple assault, according to a report by WVLT.
The incident occurred during the breakfast hour on June 7, 2023, when correctional officers began enforcing a new rule regarding inmate attire, specifically belts. The rule, which had been communicated to inmates two weeks earlier, prohibited belts with certain colors or insignia. When Cormia was asked to remove his belt, which contained gang-related material, he reacted violently. WATE reported that he initially complied by placing his hands on the wall but then quickly removed them and attacked the officers.
Sgt. Novem, the female officer who testified in the trial, explained that she suffered a fractured orbital socket and has experienced ongoing, severe headaches as a result of the attack. The violent incident led to Cormia's conviction on all counts, including aggravated assault against Sgt. Novem and simple assault against three other correctional officers present during the altercation, as reported by WIVK.
Cormia's sentencing for the assault conviction is scheduled for June 20. He is already serving a life sentence out of Hamilton County, set to end on January 27, 2049.
