NEW BOSTON, Texas-Jury selection is scheduled to begin this morning at the Bowie County courthouse in the case of a Texas prison inmate accused of knocking out a Barry Telford Unit correctional officer with a single punch.
Bryan Austin White, 27, allegedly punched Correctional Officer Kevin Squibb with such force Jan. 3 that he 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 on a charge of aggravated assault on a public servant with a prior felony conviction. White has pleaded not guilty.
At an earlier pretrial hearing, Assistant District Attorneys Kelley Crisp said a video of the alleged attack has been preserved for use at White's trial.
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 being escorted to his cell, White allegedly became agitated and aggressive, facing Squibb and dropping a book he was holding onto the floor. He allegedly struck Squibb in the side of his head with a closed fist, causing the guard 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. The guard 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 is 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. White's projected release date is Oct. 6, 2036, and his parole eligibility date is listed as April 6, 2024. Aggravated assault of a public servant is punishable by five to 99 years or life in prison. White's prior felony convictions allow the state to seek an enhanced punishment range, which includes a 15-year minimum.
White is represented by Texarkana lawyer Jeff Harrelson. Crisp and Assistant District Attorney Lauren Richards are representing the state.