A 26-year-old inmate at the Lincoln County jail is facing seven charges after investigators say he threw an unknown liquid substance from his toilet into a detention officer's face, just a day after he was involved in a fight in the shower area and allegedly tried to break out of his cell. Sebastian Elliot-Ginestri was placed alone in a segregation cell following that fight, according to authorities, before the alleged liquid attack escalated the situation further.
The trouble began on October 3, when Elliott-Ginestri was involved in a fight inside the jail's shower area, according to qcnews.com. He allegedly attempted to break out of that cell while making threats to officers, the outlet reported, and was placed in a cell by himself as a result.
The following day, October 4, officers say Elliott-Ginestri obstructed their view of his segregation cell by covering the window with a towel. When officers opened the cell door, he allegedly threw an unknown liquid substance that struck one officer in the face and another officer in the upper arm, per the same report. Detention staff believed the liquid appeared to come from the inmate's toilet, according to qcnews.com's reporting.
Officer Treated and Released After Hospital Testing
The officer struck in the face was treated and tested at a hospital and released with negative results, Lieutenant Jon Propst told whky.com. As WCCB Charlotte reported, the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office confirmed the officer's treatment and negative test results after the incident.
Elliot-Ginestri now faces two felony counts of malicious conduct by a prisoner, one felony count of escape or breach of a local confinement facility, two misdemeanor counts of assault on a government official, and misdemeanor counts of resisting a public officer and simple affray, WHKY reported. He was given a $100,000 secured bond on one charge and a no-bond hold on the remaining charges, WHKY also reported.
What North Carolina Law Says About the Charges
North Carolina's malicious-conduct-by-prisoner statute, G.S. 14-258.4, covers a prisoner who knowingly and willfully throws, emits, or causes bodily fluids, excrement, or an unknown substance to be used as a projectile at an employee performing official duties. Separately, G.S. 14-256 addresses prison breach and escape from county or municipal confinement facilities or officers, the statute most relevant to the escape charge Elliot-Ginestri now faces.
