Federal Inmates Indicted For Assault

SCRANTON – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that Jeffrey Lynn Mattox, age 32, and Clayton John Shinn, age 26, inmates at the United States Penitentiary, Canaan, in Waymart, Pennsylvania, were indicted on January 17, 2017, by a federal grand jury for assault.

According to United States Attorney Bruce D. Brandler, the indictment alleges that on October 4, 2016, Mattox and Shinn assaulted another inmate by repeatedly striking, punching and kicking the inmate, resulting in serious bodily injury.

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

Indictments are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.

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 this offense is 10 years’ imprisonment, 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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