Oakdale Federal Correctional Complex Inmate Sentenced for Assaulting Correctional Officers

LAKE CHARLES, LA—United States Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announced the sentencing of Howard Harris, 34, an inmate at the Federal Correction Complex (FCC) in Oakdale, Louisiana, for assaulting two correctional officers at the FCC facility. Harris was sentenced to 95 months in prison and three years’ supervised release following the completion of his prison sentence. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Judge Patricia Minaldi.

Harris was convicted after a one-day trial last September, on one count of assault of federal correctional officers. Court testimony showed that Harris, who had an extensive disciplinary record, was assigned to the Special Housing Unit for disciplinary separation from the general population. On February 19, 2009, two correctional officers at FCC Oakdale were removing inmates from their cells in the Special Housing Unit and escorting them to the recreation yard. During this process, Harris threw a liquid substance (feces and urine mixed together) through the food slot onto the officers, striking them on the chest and in the mouth and eyes. The defendant’s disciplinary record includes incidents similar to the charged conduct in this matter.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Myers P. Namie.