Inmate threw liquid feces at prison employees, police say

A state prison inmate is facing felony charges for allegedly throwing liquid feces at two employees.

The incident occurred on June 15 at Houtzdale state prison.

According to the affidavit of probable cause, a nurse and corrections officer were dispensing medication to the inmates when they approached the cell of Richard Edwin Winghart Jr., 28.

Winghart accepted the medication but then stuck his arm out of the wicket to prevent them from closing it.

He allegedly threw a brown liquid substance from a cup toward them, striking them.

The officer told investigators that Winghart then threw a plastic bag of the brown liquid in their direction that struck a wall. Next he used a spray bottle or other device to squirt the liquid at them, the nurse said.

Both employees were struck in the face and the body with the liquid that allegedly smelled of feces.

When their uniforms were tested, traces of feces were reportedly found in the brown stains on the clothing.

Investigators were able to view footage from a surveillance camera that confirmed the employees’ accounts of the event.

Winghart, an inmate of state prison, is charged with two counts of aggravated harassment by prisoner.

He waived his right to a preliminary hearing Wednesday during centralized court in Clearfield County.

This story was originally published February 4, 2018 at 8:54 PM with the headline "Inmate threw liquid feces at prison employees, police say."