A Shelton man awaiting trial on two cases is accused of punching a fellow inmate earlier this week at the Lewis County Jail.
Ralphe R. Manuma, 20, made a preliminary appearance in Lewis County Superior Court April 2 for one count of second-degree assault.
A judge set bail at $50,000 cash or bond.
The assault charge is punishable by up to 10 years in prison and considered a strike offense. Convictions of such crimes on three separate occasions would result in a mandatory sentence of life in prison.
According to prosecutors, Manuma has adult felony convictions for one count of first-degree assault, two counts of possession of a stolen vehicle and three counts of first-degree robbery.
He also has pending charges for possession of a controlled substance by a prisoner, first-degree robbery and custodial assault — all allegedly occurring while in custody at Green Hill School, the juvenile detention center in Chehalis.
According to a probable cause affidavit, the alleged victim told law enforcement he did not remember anything after he exited his cell and saw Manuma walking toward him while yelling at him — other than waking up in the ambulance.
The victim was transported to Providence Centralia Hospital following the alleged attack.
The investigating sheriff’s deputy reportedly “observed blood on (the victim’s) shirt and fingers as well as a large laceration in his mouth,” according to the affidavit.
Medical staff reportedly said the victim sustained a broken nose.
The deputy then reviewed footage of the incident at the jail, which reportedly shows Manuma punching the victim “in the head,” according to the affidavit.
The victim then hits “his head on the stairwell before falling to the ground.” The victim attempts to stand, but stumbles, “falling into the walls.”
Manuma was scheduled for an arraignment on April 9.
Public defender Albert Didcock has been assigned as counsel on all three pending cases.
