RIKERS ISLAND — A Rikers Island inmate was sentenced to eight years in prison on Monday for attacking correction officers and slashing another inmate, despite being acquitted of the crime that landed him in jail in the first place.
Carl Henegain, 20, had been in lockup since June 23, 2014 after being charged with attempted murder, according to the Bronx District Attorney's Office.
Although he was acquitted of this attempted murder charge in the case and convicted only of giving false information to law enforcement — a misdemeanor that carried a sentence of just 60 days — he became notorious for violence during his time at Rikers, the Bronx DA said.
While at the jail, he slashed another inmate twice in the face and punched multiple correction officers, including one who was giving him water on Nov. 5, 2015, officials said.
"The defendant decided that just getting water wasn't enough," said Assistant District Attorney Travis Long, "and decided that he had to punch that officer multiple times in the face."
He pleaded guilty to assault, attempted assault, harassment and promoting prison contraband for his actions at Rikers and was sentenced to eight years behind bars for these charges on Monday.
Henegain's lawyer Colby Dillon said that her client had been incarcerated since he was roughly 13 years old and barely knew what life was like outside of the Department of Correction.
Henegain himself, who appeared in court wearing an orange jumpsuit, declined to speak during the proceedings, although he did say "Later bro," and "Peace out, peace out" as he left the courtroom.
Correction Officers' Benevolent Association President Elias Husamudeen applauded Henegain's sentence and said in a statement that he hopes it "serves as a clear message to inmates in the city's jails that the days of continuing to commit crimes while they are incarcerated will no longer go unpunished."
Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark, who has made reforming Rikers Island one of her top priorities, echoed these sentiments.
"I hope this serves as a deterrent and reinforces our message that crimes committed in the city’s jails will have serious consequences,” she said in a statement.
