By Associated Press - Monday, July 31, 2017

SMYRNA, Del. (AP) - A Delaware inmate accused of assaulting a jailer has been found guilty.

Local news outlets report the state Department of Correction says that on Jan. 5 the inmate assaulted an officer at the James T. Vaughn Correctional Center by throwing a cup of hot liquid on him. The department says the inmate also had a 2-foot-long (.6-meter) handmade weapon with two razor blades attached.

Department spokeswoman Kate Weber says after Benjamin Panella showed the weapon through his cell’s food flap, officers used a pepper spray burst and then removed him without incident.



Weber says Panella is serving a 25-year sentence for second-degree murder and other charges.

Panella now faces “a multitude of institutional charges.” He received the minimum mandatory two-year sentence in addition to his good time credit being revoked.

Copyright © 2026 The Washington Times, LLC.

Story Topics

Please read our comment policy before commenting.