A Green Hill School inmate is facing felony charges for allegedly holding another inmate in a chokehold during a fight in October.
Jessy James Lee Krikorian Jr., 19, had a preliminary hearing Wednesday in Lewis County Superior Court for one count of second-degree assault and one count of custodial assault, as well as one count of holding person hostage, interference with an officer’s duties.
That charge is a class B felony in which the defendant is an inmate of a correctional institution who is accused of holding any person hostage and preventing an officer of the correctional institution from carrying out their duties. It is punishable by up to 10 years in prison.
Krikorian allegedly held another inmate in a choke hold during a “large-scale fight” that broke out at Green Hill School on Oct. 23, according to charging documents.
A witness reported that the victim “appeared stiff, with his eyes open, but not blinking or tracking his surroundings,” according to court documents. It ultimately took about a minute of being in a recovery position before the victim regained consciousness and resumed breathing regularly, according to court documents.
Krikorian allegedly refused staff orders to release the victim from the chokehold and allegedly kicked a staff member in the chest during the incident.
Court documents indicate that Krikorian and others who participated in the fight were “yelling gang slurs” at the victim.
Arraignment is scheduled for Jan. 15.
