A federal inmate at USP Hazelton in West Virginia has been found guilty of the fatal stabbing of another inmate. Stephen C. Crawford, 44, was convicted in U.S. District Court on charges of voluntary manslaughter, assault with a dangerous weapon, and assault resulting in serious bodily harm. Prosecutors stated that Crawford used a prison-made weapon to stab inmate Arvel Crawford multiple times.
This incident adds to the notoriety of USP Hazelton, which gained attention when Boston gangster James “Whitey” Bulger was killed shortly after his transfer to the federal penitentiary in 2018. Bulger’s murder occurred just hours after his arrival at the prison from a different facility in Florida.
Stephen Crawford’s attorneys argued that he acted out of self-defense, but prosecutors countered that the victim was unarmed and posed no threat to the suspect. If convicted, Crawford faces up to 15 additional years in federal prison for the manslaughter charge and up to 10 years for each assault charge.
The case highlights the ongoing issue of violence within the prison system and raises concerns about inmate safety. The incident also brings attention to the need for improved security measures to prevent such incidents from occurring in the future.
It is important to note that this article does not reflect the opinions or biases of any particular political party or individual. The information provided is based on the facts of the case and the statements made by the prosecutors and defense attorneys involved.
