The Herald, Sharon, Pa.

Local News

February 26, 2008

County jail inmates charged with flooding cells

By Matt Snyder

MERCER COUNTY — Two inmates allegedly flooded their cells in the Mercer County Jail in late January and early February.

Charges of vandalism, criminal mischief and disorderly conduct against Larry James Sharper Jr. and Brian Fiedler were held to court last week by District Judge Lorinda L. Hinch, Mercer. A charge of tampering with fire alarms was also held against Fiedler.

Sheriff’s deputies said Sharper, 28, of 923 Wallis Ave., Farrell, plugged his toilet with a blanket at 6:30 p.m. Jan. 20; kicked his cell door, damaging the lock; and blocked his door with a mattress.

Guards repeatedly told him to stop, but Sharper told guards he had hepatitis C and urinated in the water on his cell floor, continuing to scream and kick the door, deputies said.

The room had to be cleaned, repaired and disinfected.

Sharper flooded his cell a second time the next evening by damaging the fire sprinkler system, deputies said.

About two weeks later – on Feb. 4 – Fiedler, 20, of 709 Cedar St., Grove City, threatened to break the sprinkler in his cell if he wasn’t allowed to speak with a specific guard, deputies said.

Deputies said that about 15 minutes later, a guard noticed Fiedler getting wet and water coming out of his cell. The head of the sprinkler system was broken and his cell and those below his flooded, deputies said.

The damaged sprinklers set off fire alarms throughout the jail.

Sharper and Fiedler remain in the jail, a spokeswoman said Tuesday.

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