A prison inmate serving time on sex abuse charges will likely face more time behind bars after attacking a female officer at the Mount Pleasant Correctional Facility. Iowa Department of Corrections spokesperson Fred Scaletta says the officer was conducting routine unit checks at 3 a.m. Monday when she was attacked by 24-year-old inmate Antonio Mikhal Johnson.
“He approached her and stuffed some cloth into her mouth so she wasn’t able to yell or scream for help,” Scaletta said. “He did get her to the floor before a couple other inmates noticed the commotion.” The two inmates pulled Johnson off of the correctional officer who was then able to activate an emergency alert.
The officer, who’s name is not being released, was not physically injured. Scaletta says each officer carries an emergency alarm to summon other security personnel when necessary. “In this particular case, had inmates not heard or noticed the commotion, it could’ve been worse,” Scaletta said. Johnson was convicted in 2008 of third-degree sex abuse in Johnson County. According to online records, he was tentatively set to be released in April 2012.
Scaletta says Johnson has been placed in segregation while the incident is under investigation. Findings of the investigation will be provided to the Henry County Attorney’s Office for prosecution.