London, Ky. —Former United States Penitentiary (USP) Big Sandy inmate Jerry Lee Lewis, 43, of Pensecola, Fla. was sentenced today to 78 months in prison for his role in a violent assault of a USP Big Sandy inmate on September 1, 2006.

United States District Court Judge Gregory F. Van Tatenhove already sentenced the other four participants who were convicted after a week long trial last November in London. Jason Fowler, 32, of Lebanon, Ky., received 125 months for his conviction of assault resulting in serious bodily harm. Van Tatenhove sentenced Russell H. Lindsay to 120 months for assault with a dangerous weapon, possession of a prison-made weapon and simple assault. Christopher York, 33, of New Castle, Ind. and Billy J. Buckley, 45, Topeka, Kan. received sentences of 40 months and six months respectively. York was convicted of possession of a prison-made weapon and Buckley was convicted of simple assault.

The evidence at trial established that Fowler saw inmate Michael Eck leave his cell on the upper tier of the housing unit. Fowler, who was on the ground floor, started up the stairs toward Eck, causing him to retreat. Fowler advanced toward Eck, reached him, and started stabbing him with a metal shank.

Buckley and Lewis followed Fowler and joined in the assault. Inmate Eck fell and Fowler began stabbing Eck repeatedly in the upper body, head, and eye socket and also punched and kicked Eck. Lewis and Buckley stabbed, punched, and kicked Eck as well and Lindsay joined the assault of Eck after returning from assaulting another inmate.

As a result of the attack, Eck suffered several serious injuries, including the loss of sight in one eye, and numerous stab wounds throughout his body.

` The evidence at trial also established that on the same day, shortly before the men
assaulted Eck, Lindsay and York attempted to assault inmate Travis Giles at the Big Sandy housing unit. Lindsay was equipped with a with a nine-inch metal shank while York was armed with a combination lock connected to a belt. Eventually, Lindsay dropped his weapon behind a sliding door, and returned to the unit before staff learned he was involved in the assault. York released his weapon when he saw responding staff which eventually restrained both York and Giles.

Under federal law, all five men must serve 85 percent of their prison sentences. Upon release, each man will be under the supervision of the United States Probation Office for a term of years ranging from a year for Buckley, up to three years for the others.

James A. Zerhusen, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Hector Rios, USP Big Sandy Warden; and Larry R. Willis, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), jointly made the announcement today after the sentencing.

The investigation was conducted by the USP Big Sandy Special Investigative Services and the FBI. The United States was represented by Assistant United States Attorneys Robert M. Duncan, Jr. and Brandon W. Marshall.

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