3 held for trial in attack, sexual assault on fellow Allegheny County Jail inmate

Three men incarcerated at the Allegheny County Jail — two of them accused killers — are facing trial on charges they beat up and sexually assaulted a fourth inmate inside his cell in September while hunting for drugs.

Jayshon Martin, 21; Damon Peters, 22; and Jewel Woods, 28; all of Pittsburgh, were held for court following preliminary hearings in City Court Thursday.

Allegheny County Police said the three-on-one attack unfolded Sept. 8 around 7 p.m. in the 3D level of the Second Avenue facility.

The alleged victim entered his cell first at 7:07 p.m., video footage showed, according to the complaint. A minute later, police said, Martin and Peters entered.

At that point, the complaint said, video showed a correctional officer open the cell door by “utilizing the control panel.” Woods then walked in.

Peters and Woods covered the window of the cell, and then the attack began, the complaint said.

Peters put the alleged victim in a choke hold, the complaint said. The alleged victim told authorities he was not able to breathe.

Martin stripped the man, the complaint said.

“If you move, I’ll stab you,” Woods said, according to the complaint.

Woods punched the man repeatedly in the stomach as Martin sexually assaulted him with a plastic utensil, the complaint said.

At 7:12 p.m., authorities said Woods left the cell and stood guard nearby, appearing to block the camera’s view of the cell, according to the complaint.

More than 20 minutes later, authorities said Martin and Peters left and returned to their own cells.

The man reported the attack to a correctional officer at 10:30 p.m., authorities said. He told police he believed his attackers were searching his cell for drugs — specifically, a synthetic cannabinoid known as K2 or “deuce,” the complaint said.

He told authorities a manila envelope containing legal documents was missing after the assault, the complaint said.

Investigators said the man’s neck was visibly bruised and cut after the attack, the complaint said. He later was treated at Allegheny General Hospital for injuries to his neck, mouth, eye, arms and anus, the complaint said.

It was unclear how many correctional officers were working near Johnson’s cell at the time of the attack, or whether jail officials have investigated or disciplined any staff in connection with the incident.

The jail declined to make Warden Trevor Wingard available for an interview.

“We cannot discuss any specifics, but the safety and security of the incarcerated population is the jail’s primary concern,” the jail said in a statement. “As with all correctional facilities, incidents involving incarcerated individuals occur, and we thank the Allegheny County Police investigators for their prompt response.”

Abigail Gardner, an Allegheny County spokeswoman, did not respond Thursday to emails or phone calls seeking comment.

The head of the union representing jail employees declined comment.

During Thursday’s hearing, Peters was held for trial on six charges including robbery, aggravated assault and strangulation. He was already in jail facing trial for attempted homicide in a Hill District shooting.

Prosecutors Thursday withdrew three charges against Martin during his hearing, court records show. He will face trial on counts of aggravated indecent assault and strangulation. Martin is facing trial in a deadly shooting Downtown on Jan. 19, 2023.

Prosecutors also withdrew three of the four charges against Woods, court records show, but one count of terroristic threats was held. Woods was also in jail awaiting trial on a homicide charge in connection with the May 3, 2024, killing of a man in the Hill District.

The Allegheny County Public Defenders Office and attorney Frank Walker, who represent Martin and Woods, respectively, did not respond to emails or phone calls Thursday seeking comment.

Attorney Thomas Farrell, who represents Peters, declined to comment.