November 7, 2014

Oakdale Inmate Pleads Guilty to Inflicting Severe Injuries on a Fellow Inmate

LAKE CHARLES, LA—United States Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announced that an Oakdale inmate pleaded guilty Thursday to severely beating a fellow inmate twice in one day.

Douglas Darrell Harris, 32, a resident of the Federal Correctional Institution in Oakdale, La., pleaded guilty Thursday before U.S. District Judge Patricia Minaldi to one count of assault at a federal correctional institution. According to evidence presented at the guilty plea, Harris assaulted a fellow inmate twice on April 1, 2014. One of the beatings was caught on camera, and the other was witnessed by a guard. As a result of the beatings, the injured inmate suffered from fractured fingers, a fractured humerus, blurred vision and head pain. He also suffered a seizure and was admitted into the intensive care unit. Additionally, his hands were so badly injured, they required surgery.

The defendant faces up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised and a $250,000 fine. A sentencing date of February 12, 2015 was set.

The FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert C. Abendroth is prosecuting the case.