Inmate relieved of freedom for holding-cell assault

An Arnold man pleaded guilty to charges that he urinated on another inmate while in a holding cell earlier this year at the Westmoreland County Courthouse.

Tahnook Sewell, 23, was charged in connection to an incident on July 21 that police said was recorded on security cameras recorded video a confrontation with another inmate.

Sewell pleaded guilty to one felony count of aggravated harassment by a prisoner and was sentenced to serve 1-to-2 years in prison.

Common Pleas Court Judge Michael Stewart II ordered Sewell’s prison term to run concurrent to all other prison sentences he is currently serving. According to court records, Sewell has been convicted numerous separate cases for burglary, taunting of a police dog, aggravated assault, indecent exposure and drug offenses. He is currently serving a 1-to-2-year prison sentence for assault.

According to court records, Sewell was in a courthouse holding cell when police said initiated the assault after viewing an inmates court documents that detailed allegations of a sexual assault against a child. Police said Sewell threw those court documents into a toilet, confronted the inmate, verbally taunted him about the charges and urinated on his leg.