By Jim Hannah
The Cincinnati Enquirer

A 17-year-old Northside teen-ager was assaulted in his jail cell Friday night, just hours after being convicted of taking part in a racially motivated beating of an African-American man.

Kevin Carroll, who was tried in Hamilton County as an adult, was found guilty of two counts of felonious assault and one count of ethnic intimidation. He was sentenced to five years in prison.

Steve Barnett, spokesman for the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office, said Mr. Carroll was assaulted at 10:30 Friday night in a jail cell at the Justice Center.

Mr. Barnett said it was too early to say what prompted the attack. He said deputies have taken additional steps to ensure Mr. Carroll's safety.

Mr. Carroll was treated at University Hospital for multiple fractures to the face area, said Mr. Carroll's attorney, Herbert Haas.

He said his client was back at the Justice Center Saturday afternoon in "protected isolation."

Prosecutors said Mr. Carroll, who is white, was among a group of people who attacked Theodore Jenkins on Nov. 24, 2001, in Northside.

Mr. Jenkins was clubbed and stabbed in the 3900 block of Colerain Avenue as he walked home from his Camp Washington job shortly before 2:30 a.m.

Mr. Jenkins, who has recovered from his injuries, told police his attackers used racial slurs during the incident.

Co-defendant Joshua Yaden, 16, of Northside pleaded guilty last week to felonious assault for his part in the attack in exchange for the dismissal of the ethnic intimidation charge filed against him. He also had been tried in adult court.

Calvin Cooper, 22, of Northside and Christina Noel, 23, of Groesbeck also were arrested in connection with the attack.

They are scheduled to stand trial Monday on charges of ethnic intimidation.

E-mail jhannah@enquirer.com