Crime & Safety

Gang Violence in Stillwater Prison Leads to Felony Charges for Three Inmates

If convicted of the charges against them, each of the alleged assailants faces up to five more years in prison and a $10,000 fine.

Three inmates at the Minnesota Correctional Facility - Stillwater are facing felony assault charges in connection with an alleged 3-on-1 fight that occured on Aug. 11 inside one of the prison cells. 

According to a warrant complaint filed on Oct. 10:

Correctional officers responded to reports of a fight between inmates in a cell and, upon arrival, saw David Devore Harris, 20, exchanging punches with another inmate.

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The complaint says when officers arrived, they found the alleged victim bleeding from the nose and mouth and appearing dazed. Officers also found two broken teeth inside the man's cell.

A post-incident investigation revealed surveillance video showing Harris—alongside inmates Antonio Lavelle Cosey, 29, and Anthony Dwayne Jones, 22—enter the victim's cell and begin punching him.

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The alleged fight then moves to the back of the cell, outside the reach of the video. Harris, Cosey and Jones were then shown leaving the cell a short time later.

During a post-incident interview, the victim first denied knowing his alleged assailants but then told officers they assaulted him "because of a power struggle" within the Black P. Stones, a Chicago-based gang.

The alleged victim told correctional officers he wanted to the leave the gang and thus, the men were sent to assault him. 

Jones and Cosey are scheduled to appear in court on Dec. 29 and Jan. 12, respectively. 

No information was available on a court date for Harris. 

If convicted of the charges against them, the defendants each face a maximum of five more years in prison and a $10,000 fine. 


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