News

December 17, 2008

Inmate with HIV gets up to 8 years for spitting

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

By Sheena Delazio sdelazio@timesleader.com
Staff Writer
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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.

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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