An inmate in Hopkins County jail added aggravated assault to the list of offenses he is charged with Feb. 13.
Kawl Stephens Jr. allegedly struck another inmate in the head with a “hot pot” following an argument during a game of checkers, deputies alleged in arrest reports.
The 25-year-old has been in Hopkins County jail since Feb. 2 on a US Marshals charge, according to jail records. The other inmate, 18, has been in Hopkins County jail since Jan. 17 for violation of probation on an resisting arrest, search or transport charge.
According to arrest reports, sheriff’s office staff viewed a video from the jail depicting an altercation in which each struck the other during the game of checkers. The younger man reportedly held Stephens on the ground toward the end of the initial altercation. After the teen let Stephens up, the altercation appeared to be over. It wasn’t.
A short time later, Stephens struck the younger man in the face “with a jail issued hot pot,' deputies alleged in arrest treports.
Sheriff's officers spoke to both, then concluded Stephens struck the other inmate after the mutual combat altercation concluded, when Stephens had an opportunity to push a button for help. Instead, he struck the other inmate with the blunt object, causing serious bodily injury. Both were placed into handcuffs and taken out of the cell, arrest reports state.
Stephens at 9:20 p.m. Tuesday had an aggravated assault with an deadly weapon charge added to the offenses he is accused of, deputies alleged in arrest reports.