WEST VIRGINIA — Five inmates at the United States Penitentiary Hazelton were named in five separate Indictments returned on March 4, 2008, by a Federal Grand Jury sitting in Clarksburg, West Virginia.

United States Attorney Sharon L. Potter announced that:

ALPHONSO BLAKE, age 29, an inmate in the custody of the Bureau of Prisons at the United States Penitentiary Hazelton, was named in a two-count Indictment. Count One of the Indictment alleges that BLAKE assaulted a person known to the Grand Jury with a dangerous weapon with the intent to do bodily harm at the United States Penitentiary Hazelton on January 9, 2008. Count Two of the Indictment alleges that BLAKE unlawfully possessed an object that was designed and intended to be used as a weapon on January 9, 2008. If convicted, BLAKE faces a maximum exposure of 10 years imprisonment and a fine of $250,000 on Count One of the Indictment; and a maximum exposure of five years imprisonment and a fine of $250,000 on Count Two of the Indictment.

GUILLERMO BOLANOS-ESCAMILLA, age 24, an inmate in the custody of the Bureau of Prisons at the United States Penitentiary Hazelton, was named in a three-count Indictment. The Indictment alleges that BOLANOS-ESCAMILLA knowingly assaulted employees of the Bureau of Prisons resulting in their bodily injury while the employees were engaged in their official duties on September 18, 2007. If convicted, BOLANOS-ESCAMILLA faces a maximum exposure of 20 years imprisonment and a fine of $250,000 on each count of the Indictment.

EUNICE HUSBAND, age 37, an inmate in the custody of the Bureau of Prisons at the United States Penitentiary Hazelton, was named in a two-count Indictment. Count One of the Indictment alleges that HUSBAND unlawfully possessed an object that was designed and intended to be used as a weapon on January 8, 2008. Count Two of the Indictment alleges that HUSBAND unlawfully possessed marihuana with the intent to distribute on January 8, 2008. If convicted, HUSBAND faces a maximum exposure of five years imprisonment and a fine of $250,000 on each count of the Indictment.

JAMES JENKINS, JR., age 26, an inmate in the custody of the Bureau of Prisons at the United States Penitentiary Hazelton, was named in a two-count Indictment. Count One of the Indictment alleges that JENKINS assaulted a person known to the Grand Jury with a dangerous weapon with the intent to do bodily harm at the United States Penitentiary Hazelton on January 30, 2008. Count Two of the Indictment alleges that BLAKE unlawfully possessed an object that was designed and intended to be used as a weapon on January 30, 2008. If convicted, JENKINS faces a maximum exposure of 10 years imprisonment and a fine of $250,000 on Count One of the Indictment; and a maximum exposure of five years imprisonment and a fine of $250,000 on Count Two of the Indictment.

CATHERINE CHERISH RHINEHART, also known as “CAT,” age 36, an inmate in the custody of the Bureau of Prisons at Hazelton Secure Female Facility, was named in a two-count Indictment. Count One of the Indictment alleges that RHINEHART assaulted a person known to the Grand Jury with a dangerous weapon with the intent to do bodily harm at the Hazelton Secure Female Facility on November 5, 2007. Count Two of the Indictment alleges that RHINEHART unlawfully possessed an object that was designed and intended to be used as a weapon on November 5, 2007. If convicted, RHINEHART faces a maximum exposure of 10 years imprisonment and a fine of $250,000 on Count One of the Indictment; and a maximum exposure of five years imprisonment and a fine of $250,000 on Count Two of the Indictment.

It should be noted that the charges contained in the Indictments are merely accusations and not evidence of guilt, and that each defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

The cases will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David E. Godwin. The cases were investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.