Inmate to be tried for alleged assault on corrections officer

A state prison inmate will stand trial for allegedly assaulting a corrections officer.

Maurice T. Hamilton, 37, was charged in April with aggravated assault, simple assault and harassment by state police for an incident Jan. 30, 2017 at Houtzdale state prison.

According to the affidavit of probable cause, Hamilton was argumentative after a corrections officer told him to hang up a telephone and return to his cell. Hamilton allegedly got very close to the officer and started swinging both his closed fists at him, before allegedly striking the officer in the face several times.

The officer reportedly suffered a bloody nose and a laceration on his upper lip.

The assault is clearly visible on surveillance footage, according to the criminal complaint.

During centralized court on Wednesday in Clearfield County, Hamilton waived his right to a preliminary hearing, sending the case onto county court. He remains incarcerated in state prison.

This story was originally published February 4, 2018 at 7:31 PM with the headline "Inmate to be tried for alleged assault on corrections officer."