A prison inmate already serving decades was recently convicted of brutally beating an inmate last year at Lancaster County Prison.
The victim survived after two brain surgeries and other treatment from the attack by 39-year-old Tomas Matthews.
The beating happened April 3, 2017, a couple months after Matthews was convicted in Lancaster County Court of rape and aggravated assault. Matthews was later sentenced to 33 to 70 years for those charges.
Matthews was again in trial, last week, for kicking and punching the male inmate until he was unconscious.
The inmate was returning to his cell when Matthews followed, closed the cell door, and beat him, according to testimony presented by Assistant District Attorney Karen Mansfield.
The jury deliberated about 45 minutes before convicting Matthews of aggravated assault, simple assault, and two counts of unlawful restraint.
Regarding the simple assault, Matthews punched the victim’s cellmate to silence his calls for help.
The man who was seriously beaten sustained brain bleeds, along with facial and skull fractures. A neurosurgeon testified that the victim required two brain surgeries to save his life.
Mansfield also called prison personnel to testify.
Lancaster County Judge Donald Totaro, who presided over the trial, will order sentence after a background check is completed.
Lancaster city police Detective Stanley Roache filed charges.
MEDIA CONTACT: Brett A. Hambright, 717-295-2041; bhambright@co.lancaster.pa.us; Twitter: @BrettHambright