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Press Release

Federal Inmate Pleads Guilty To Assault

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Middle District of Pennsylvania

SCRANTON – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Clayton John Shinn, age 27, an inmate at the United States Penitentiary, Canaan, Waymart, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty to assault on August 24, 2017, before United States District Court Judge Robert D. Mariani.

 

According to United States Attorney Bruce D. Brandler, Shinn pleaded guilty to intentionally assaulting another inmate on October 4, 2016, by repeatedly striking, punching and kicking the inmate, resulting in serious bodily injury.

 

Shinn and co-defendant, Jeffrey Lynn Mattox, age 33, were indicted by a federal grand jury in Scranton on January 17, 2017. Mattox’s case is still pending.

 

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Prisons Special Investigative Service. Assistant United States Attorney Michelle Olshefski is prosecuting the case.

 

A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.

 

The maximum penalty under federal law for the crime is imprisonment for 10 years, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the Judge is also required to consider and weigh a number of factors, including the nature, circumstances and seriousness of the offense; the history and characteristics of the defendant; and the need to punish the defendant, protect the public and provide for the defendant's educational, vocational and medical needs. For these reasons, the statutory maximum penalty for the offense is not an accurate indicator of the potential sentence for a specific defendant.

 

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Updated August 25, 2017