Travis Cleve White Jr. was sentenced to 15 years in prison for provoking acts of violence inside the Pierce County Jail.
White, 49, was found guilty and convicted of three counts of unlawful acts of violence in the penal institution following a trial in Pierce County Superior Court last Thursday.
The jury of eight men and four women deliberated for about 30 minutes before returning the guilty verdict.
After the verdict, White was sentenced by Judge J. Kelly Brooks to the 15 years, plus another five years to be served on probation.
White will not be eligible for parole or early release because he was already a repeat offender at the time of the crime.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Shawn Wildes. White was represented by Defense Attorney Frank Aspinwall Jr.
According to evidence presented at trial, White provoked other inmates at the Pierce County Jail by using racial slurs, making threats and spitting on an another inmate which led to a fight. White continued acting in a tumultuous, aggressive manner towards the jail administrator responding to the initial incident.
White was previously convicted of armed robbery, felony reckless conduct, violation of the Georgia Controlled Substances Act, along with other charges.
District Attorney Marilyn Bennett would like to thank the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office, Jail Administrator Freddie Henderson and jail staff involved in the investigation helping to maintain peace and order amongst inmates at the Pierce County Jail.
Sheriff Ramsey Bennett said he expects inmates to behave in jail.
“Mr. White will serve every day of his sentence because he couldn’t behave. If you are going to cut up and get arrested, you aren’t going to come in to the jail and cut up,” he said.
Additionally, Bennett sends her appreciation and thanks to all the jurors for their service last week.
