New Kensington man charged after inmate fight at Westmoreland prison

A New Kensington man awaiting trial in a shooting was charged by police Wednesday with beating a man at the Westmoreland County Prison.

The injured inmate had to get multiple staples in the back of his head at a hospital, according to court papers.

Amarion M. Michaux, 19, is charged with aggravated assault, possession of an offensive weapon and related offenses.

Westmoreland County detectives said the Aug. 1 apparently gang-related attack at the Hempfield lockup took place in a D-Unit day room. Surveillance video showed Michaux approach the other inmate just before 10 a.m. and the two got into a fight, according to court papers.

Michaux can be seen during the minute-long altercation whipping the other man with some type of long object, police said. In court papers, they described it as a plastic cord wrapped in cloth with earbud plugs.

His bail was set at $50,000 during arraignment Thursday. A preliminary hearing is set for Aug. 26. Michaux did not have an attorney listed in the new case.

He has been at the jail since April 24, 2024, after he was arrested on attempted homicide charges. New Kensington police accuse him of shooting at three people outside the Valley Royal Court apartment complex on April 15. Trial in that case is tentatively set for October.