One of several inmates charged with rioting at Lemon Creek Correctional Center in October 2015 could be facing new charges in connection with an act of vandalism at the jail last week.
That’s in addition to two new cases Christopher W. Davison has racked up this year, which include assault and weapons charges.
Davison is one of eight men charged with felony rioting and criminal mischief in connection with the incident at LCCC on Oct. 5, 2015, which reportedly caused thousands of dollars in damage but no injuries. He failed to appear for a court hearing on April 11 and a $2,500 warrant was issued for his arrest.
Davison, 33, was taken into custody April 21; he was arraigned on two new cases April 26, after failing to appear in court for several days in a row.
According to court records, he could not be arraigned over the weekend of April 22-23 because he was “detoxing,” and could not be transported to court that Monday, allegedly for the same reason. On April 25, court officials were told he was being uncooperative.
“I was told he set off the sprinkler system and flooded offices at the jail,” said Assistant District Attorney Angie Kemp, adding that a new case is expected due to that incident.
A spokesman from the Department of Corrections confirmed that an inmate broke a head off the sprinkler system, but believed there wasn’t any damage, just water on the floor.
Kemp said that the Juneau Police Department had issued a be-on-the-lookout advisory on Davison April 21 after multiple reports that he was making threats involving a gun.
A day earlier, a woman reported that Davison was “tweaking hard,” said he knew the police were looking for him and then pulled out a sawed-off shotgun. A second witness told police Davison was pointing a firearm at his head, Kemp said, adding that a firearm was later located in his backpack.
There were additional reports that Davison wanted to get into a shootout with the police, “that he wouldn’t go down without a fight,” she said.
Davison has been charged with two counts of third-degree misconduct involving weapons — for being a felon in possession of a firearm and for having an illegal rifle — and one count of third-degree assault in connection with those incidents.
According to Kemp, an earlier case stemmed from a March 27 domestic violence incident in which Davison was shooting a gun at Switzer Village mobile home park, causing her a “lot of concern” over community safety. He has been charged with felony third-degree assault, and several misdemeanors: fourth-degree assault, reckless endangerment, and failure to stop at the direction of an officer.
Davison called the allegations a “sack of lies,” prompting the judge to warn him to talk only to his defense attorney.
Davison also appeared on the riot case, and remains scheduled to go to trial July 31.
Eight men were originally charged with felony rioting and criminal mischief in that 2015 incident. Jordan Oldham, Justin F. Thomerson and Dalton Nierstheimer still remain set for trial July 31. Shawn Buck and Jose A. Munoz previously took plea agreements. Rodney Willis, who was set for trial last month, changed his plea on April 25 and is set for sentencing June 8, while Tommie Snyder is set to change his plea on May 3.
Reporter Liz Kellar can be reached at 523-2246 or liz.kellar@juneauempire.com.
