Inmate with HIV gets up to 8 years for spitting

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December 17, 2008

A transgender, Shawn Shannon “Nicole” Quinnones assaulted, harassed guard.

By Sheena Delazio sdelazio@timesleader.com
Staff Writer

WILKES-BARRE – A former inmate at the State Correctional Institution at Dallas was sentenced to up to eight years in prison on Tuesday for spitting on a corrections officer.

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Shawn Shannon ‘Nicole’ Quinnones, who is transgender and infected with HIV, was sentenced Tuesday to four years and three months to eight years and six months in state prison by Luzerne County Court of Common Pleas Judge Chester Muroski.

Clark Van Orden/The Times Leader

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Shawn Shannon “Nicole” Quinnones, 34, who was found guilty by a Luzerne County jury in September, was sentenced to four years and three months to eight years and six months in state prison by Luzerne County Court of Common Pleas Judge Chester Muroski.

Quinnones, who is transgender and infected with HIV, was found guilty of assault by a prisoner, aggravated harassment by a prisoner and recklessly endangering another person. Her partner, Anthony Gray, 27, was found guilty of aggravated harassment by a prisoner.

The two were accused of spitting on corrections officer Ralph Laiuvara at SCI-Dallas in October 2006. Prosecutors said the pair, who claim they are lovers, were upset that guards would not put them in cells next to each other.

The trial lasted for four days before the jury rendered a verdict after more than five hours of deliberations.

Then-assistant district attorney Ed Olexa, who is now a public defender, said at trial that the two wanted to run the prison their way.

Luzerne County Assistant District Attorney Alexis Falvello prosecuted the case Tuesday.

Quinnones and Gray, who represented themselves with assistance of stand-by counsel, said at trial the guards were punishing them for being homosexuals and called the two derogatory names. Quinnones said the guards lied about the incident.

At Tuesday’s sentencing, Quinnones said she continues to be “persecuted” while housed at SCI-Fayette and life is hard for her because other inmates constantly make fun of her and “proposition” her on a daily basis.

Gray, who is serving a 21-to-46-year sentence for third-degree murder at SCI-Camp Hill, is tentatively scheduled for sentencing on Dec. 29 before Muroski. Gray and Quinnones have vowed to appeal the conviction. Quinnones was also ordered to pay a $100 fine for an additional summary harassment charge.

Quinnones is serving 11 � to 23 years for a 1997 robbery conviction in Montgomery County. Muroski said Quinnones will serve the sentence imposed Tuesday following her current sentence.

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15 Reader Comments

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paul said...

8 years is a a slap on the wrist, lock her/him , or whatever it is up, and throw the key away.

December 17, 2008 at 7:52 AM

Jeff said...

"Nicole" looks like something right out of a Freddie Krueger nightmare. Tuesday’s sentencing, Quinnones said "while housed at SCI-Fayette, life is hard for her?" Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't prison MEANT to be hard? Isn't prison supposed to be PUNISHMENT for a crime committed? In my opinion, prisoners have it pretty good while incarcerated, to good.

December 17, 2008 at 7:59 AM

joe the plumber said...

THATS NOT A MAN OR WOMAN IT'S A ????????

December 17, 2008 at 8:08 AM

lee said...

Shawn Shannon “Nicole” Quinnones is NOT a "her". He is a he, who wants to act like a her. But he is definitly a he.

December 17, 2008 at 9:13 AM

Tired of it all said...

Where is the brains of the Sheriffs Dept.? Here they are transporting a known HIV infected individual and a spitter in public with out a spit guard on him/her? They are allowing themselves and the public to be exposed to HIV virus. Don't we have enough problems in this area.

December 17, 2008 at 9:19 AM

Ziggy said...

Now there's a nice, normal individual that will someday be reformed and become a productive member of society. So what is it, a he or she? I thought SCID was a male facility. Why the long hair? Wants adjoining cells to it's lover? Give me a break. This story is the epitome so much that's wrong with our society today. Prison? Should be in isolation in a mental institution. Wait, those were deemed inhumane. AAARRGGHHHHH

December 17, 2008 at 9:38 AM

Jake Jeeter said...

Will Quinnones be going to the men's prison or the women's prison? If the men's prison is the destination, then the paper needs to stop referring to Quinnones as "she". Enough with the P.C. B.S. already.

December 17, 2008 at 11:33 AM

Franker said...

Like George Costanza said after witnessing Elaine dancing: Sweet fancy Moses!

December 17, 2008 at 11:50 AM

Scott said...

8 years for spitting!!! People in this valley get less for murder!

December 17, 2008 at 12:30 PM

Darlene said...

Since when does spitting on someone elicit that harsh of a sentence? An HIV+ person can dump a gallon of their saliva onto a gash on my body and there is 100% no chance of getting infected with the virus. This is obnoxious.

December 17, 2008 at 4:38 PM

Kaitlyn said...

This is insane. She may be the one in prison, but the judge, jury, and all you raving fear-addled bigots here ought to be the ones locked up. You're frothing with madness.

December 17, 2008 at 10:47 PM

Simone said...

Whatever they are in jail for, and whatever you may think of their gender or their sexuality, this was an unjust sentence. HIV can only be transmitted through intercourse or through an infected person's blood getting into your system, say through an open wound or a blood transfusion, for example. You cannot get it from spit, or by sharing toilet seats, or from touching, or by any other means. That they were even convicted on this charge is a very poor reflection on the court. ~Simone.

December 18, 2008 at 12:20 AM

To Tired of it all said...

Dear Tired of it all, I know the deputies that were on the transport and they had the stuff ready but the inmate acted properly and did not need the spit guard. Don't be a hater because you are no longer a deputy.

December 18, 2008 at 7:02 AM

C Joy said...

Most comunicable illiness can be transmitted through saliva. wheather this person has aids or not makes no difference. Spitting, and hitting are physical assualts. This person happens to have aids. I wonder what else this person may happen to have. The flue, hepititus? I agree that the person should be wearing a spit mask.

December 18, 2008 at 2:58 PM

suitor said...

Paul and Jeff, Some pretty self righteous attitudes. If 8 years is a slap on the wrist Paul. Then go do his/her-it's time. 8 years is a very, very long time in a penitentiary. Jeff, yes, it's punishment. But not torture. American prisons are becoming torture dens. No, it's not like a Mexican or S. American prison. But like the Nation, America, it's headed that way. Fast. America is in it's death throes. How tragic.

December 20, 2008 at 8:58 AM

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