Saturday, March 13, 1999
Murder suspect put in isolation
Cell move comes after he was stabbed
BY STEVE KEMME
The Cincinnati Enquirer
HAMILTON — One day after being stabbed in the eye with a pencil while he slept in the Butler County Jail, murder suspect James Lee Lawson Friday was placed in a cell by himself for his own protection.
Common Pleas Judge Patricia Oney ordered the change after denying a request from Mr. Lawson's attorney to move him to the Montgomery County Jail.
Mr. Lawson, his left eye bloodshot and bruised, told Judge Oney at a Friday morning hearing that he has been mistreated while in jail the past 31/2 months.
“Ma'am, I've been treated very unfairly since I've been there,” he said. “The first 30 to 40 days, I was in constant isolation without my glasses. I've been three to four days without a shower and without brushing my teeth.”
Police said James D. Sudberry, a 25-year-old murder suspect who shared a cell with Mr. Lawson, stabbed him in Thursday's early morning hours. Chief Deputy Rick Jones of the Butler County Sheriff's Department said they had no motive for the stabbing.
Mr. Sudberry, who is charged with fatally stabbing his uncle in January with a pair of scissors, was placed in a disciplinary cell after the incident, Mr. Jones said. As of late Friday, no charges had been filed against Mr. Sudberry.
Mr. Lawson is accused of killing his girlfriend, Cheryl Ann Durkin, and dismembering her body. Since entering jail, he said his life has been threatened and his food has been peppered so excessively that he has trouble eating it.
“I've lost 20 to 30 pounds since I've been there,” he said.
His attorney, John Rion, said that in the past three weeks, Mr. Lawson has found two metal screws in his soup. He showed one to Judge Oney.
Mr. Jones said the sheriff's department has found no evidence to support Mr. Lawson's allegations.
“I doubt if any of it is true,” Mr. Jones said. “This is a ploy to try to get him a little closer to his attorney in Montgomery County.”
He said the jail staff is taking all possible precautions for Mr. Lawson's safety.
“There is a difference between home and jail. This is jail,” Mr. Jones said. “My people aren't mistreating him, but they're not treating him as well as he was used to being treated in the free world.”
Mr. Lawson's father, Emmit Lawson, was upset that his 29-year-old son was not moved to the Montgomery County Jail. He picketed the courthouse Friday to protest the alleged abusive treatment of his son.
“What happened to innocent until proven guilty?” he said. “That sure fell by the wayside. It's a game they're playing with (James) to get him to plead guilty to a lesser charge.”
Mr. Rion said he was pleased with Judge Oney's order placing Mr. Lawson in a cell alone.
“We're hopeful that her actions may remedy the problem,” he said. “If they do not, we may have to file another motion to have him moved.”
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