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LISBON -- An East Liverpool man who took a broken broom handle after another inmate at the county jail was sentenced to 11 months in prison during a sentencing hearing in Common Pleas Court on Monday.
William L. Gist, 53, Beaver Street, East Liverpool, had previously pleaded guilty to possession of a deadly weapon while under detention, assault and two counts of violating a protection order. He and his defense attorney, James Lanzo, explained that the weapon charge at the jail was not unprovoked.
Lanzo said video surveillance leading up to the incident shows an inmate had taken the food from another inmate. Words were exchanged and Gist took the matter into his own hands.
Gist said some of the inmates take the commissary and trays of food from some of the younger, smaller inmates.
"I'm not going to sit there and let this big dude punk this little dude out of his tray," Gist explained to Bickerton.
When the man would not listen to requests by Gist for him to return his tray, his answer was to knock the trays away from the other man, grab a broom leaning in the corner, break it in half and go after that other inmate with the broken, pointy end.
As for the temporary protection orders he violated, Gist talked about that situation, too.
"Those are two very good women," Gist said of the two women who were in the back of the courtroom, neither of whom chose not to speak to the judge prior to sentencing. "I do have a bad past. Hopefully, one day they will forgive me."
Bickerton said she has read the victim statements from the women and explained to Gist they are fearful of him. She said she can see how he can be charming, but then these women obviously see another side of him, leading to them getting a protection order to keep him away.
When it came to the incident at the jail, Bickerton said no one wants anyone being bullied at the jail, but he needs to learn to find other ways to handle problems instead of getting involved.
"You are a grown man," Bickerton said. "You make things more difficult on yourself … It's nonsense. You don't need to get yourself involved in it."
Bickerton said she has come in contact with Gist in court before and he always seems to be involved in things he should not even though he can explain to her why he did it. She added perhaps he likes the drama. She sentenced him to 11 months in prison, although she said he has credit for nearly 100 days already served in jail.
djohnson@mojonews.com