An inmate who punched and attacked a Bay County Sheriff’s Office Correctional Officer was found guilty Thursday and sentenced to 5 years and 4 months in prison, State Attorney Larry Basford announced.
Christopher E. Cottrell, 55, a transient, was found guilty of Battery on a Law Enforcement Officer and Assault on a Law Enforcement officer. The jury deliberated for about 10 minutes after Prosecutor Dustin Miller presented his case.
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Miller called 4 witnesses, including the victim, and presented evidence proving Cottrell committed the crimes on Sept. 25, 2023, at the Bay County Jail. Circuit Court Judge Dustin Stephenson sentenced the defendant to 60.3 months in prison.
“There is no way to justify this attack,” Miller told jurors. “And once he was out of that cell, I submit he took the first opportunity he had to throw another punch when he slipped the handcuff.”
The testimony and evidence proved that the defendant requested copies of legal paperwork and the correctional officer opened the defendant’s cell door to speak to him. The defendant became angry and punched the victim, who attempted to close the cell door.
The defendant swung again and jumped on top of the correctional officer, continuing his attack until subdued. While the defendant was being escorted to a confinement area by 2 correctional officers, he slipped one of his handcuffs and took another swing at the victim.
Basford thanked the Bay County Sheriff’s Office for its work on the case and the correctional officers for the job they do that puts them at daily risk.
For more information, contact Mike Cazalas at mike.cazalas@sa14.fl.gov, or call 850-381-7454.