NEW BOSTON, Texas-A Texas prison inmate accused of assaulting a correctional officer at the Barry Telford Unit in January appeared for a pretrial hearing Thursday afternoon at the Bowie County courthouse in New Boston.
Bryan Austin White, 26, allegedly punched Correctional Officer Kevin Squibb with such force Jan. 3 that Squibb was knocked unconscious, suffered a concussion and required stitches, according to court documents used to create the following account. A Bowie County grand jury indicted White in March for aggravated assault on a public servant with a prior felony conviction. White has pleaded not guilty.
White is currently serving two 25-years terms for aggravated robbery he received Feb. 23, 2011, in Kaufman County, Texas, according to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice website. His projected release date is Oct. 6, 2036, and his parole eligibility date is currently listed as April 6, 2024.
White appeared with Texarkana lawyer Jeff Harrelson for a pretrial hearing Thursday before 102nd District Judge Bobby Lockhart. Assistant District Attorney Kelley Crisp told Lockhart she has filed a notice of enhancement because of White's prior criminal history which could increase the punishment White faces from five to 99 or life to 15 to 99 or life, if he's convicted.
Crisp said she provided documents from TDCJ's Office of Inspector General and a copy of video surveillance footage which depicts the allege assault to the defense.
"Mr. Harrelson has requested we check into this individual's mental health," Crisp said. "There are some records and we will turn those over before the next pretrial hearing June 29."
Lockhart asked Crisp about the quality of the video footage.
"It's very clear," Crisp said. "The attack is just a few seconds long."
According to court records, Squibb was performing routine duties when White, a general population inmate at the time, approached him and asked about being escorted to a work assignment. Squibb allegedly told White he had not been called to report yet but that he would escort him as soon as he was.
After escorting White to his cell, White allegedly became agitated and aggressive, facing Squibb and dropping a book he was holding onto the floor. White allegedly struck Squibb in the side of his head with a closed fist, causing Squibb to fall to the floor unconscious.
White allegedly picked up the book he dropped, stepped over Squibb's motionless body and walked to a prison dayroom. Squibb was treated at a Texarkana hospital for a concussion with loss of consciousness for 30 minutes or less and required three stitches to close a head laceration he suffered.
White's case is scheduled for jury selection Oct. 1.