Published: November 02, 2009 11:59 pm      

Two inmates charged in assault of Somerset prison guards

SOMERSET, Pa. — Two inmates of the Somerset Correctional Institution have been charged with assaulting two correctional officers.

Both officers suffered minor injuries and have since returned to duty. The alleged incident occurred Thursday at about 8:30 a.m. at the medium-security prison in Somerset Township, according to Pennsylvania State Police.

Inmates Anthony Herrera, 21, and Yokoe Kabbah, 31, were both charged with aggravated assault, assault by prisoner, simple assault, harassment and resisting arrest.

Police said the inmates were housed in the restricted housing unit of the prison and were separately engaging in a recreational period when Kabbah allegedly became involved in an altercation with another inmate, who was not charged in the incident. As staff members attempted to intervene, Kabbah allegedly struck a correctional officer.

Herrera allegedly assaulted an officer as staff members began to return the remaining inmates to their cells, police said.