Inmate charged in attack at Newton prison

A man incarcerated at the Newton Correctional Facility is facing additional charges after assaulting a fellow inmate.

Keith M. Piper, 31, said he committed the assault — including kicking, punching and striking the inmate with a padlock in a sock and cutting him with a razor. The assault, Piper said, according to court documents, was because the inmate was imprisoned for sexually abusing a child and continued to talk about the abuse.

Piper is charged with willful injury causing bodily injury for the assault.

According to the Jasper County Sheriff's Office report, Piper told the other inmate he needed to build respect with the other inmates by showing he could take a beating. The inmate agreed and allowed Piper to hit the victim in the ribs 18 to 19 times on March 1. On March 2, Piper said they needed to do it again and began hitting him again, placing a sweatshirt in his mouth to quiet the yelling and keep officers away.

Piper said that he has punched him so many times that his hand hurt and the victim had curled up on the floor to protect himself. Piper then placed a padlock in a sock and began hitting the victim in the head, body, feed, ankles and shins.

Piper noticed the victim's face began to swell and he took a razor to his face to reduce swelling. He then began to cut other parts of his body until he noticed a large amount of blood in the cell.

At that time, he allowed the victim to call for help. The victim pushed the assistance button and laid back on his bunk. Piper began hitting the victim again until officer arrived and separated them.

Piper remains at the Newton Correction Facility.

Contact Jamee A. Pierson at 641-792-3121 ext. 6534 or jpierson@newtondailynews.com