Victim suffered black eye over a book
Jamal A. Pointer, 23, New London, is charged with felony battery by a prisoner.
He faces up to six years in prison if convicted.
Pointer allegedly punched another inmate at Waupaca County jail, causing his eye to swell shut and become black and blue.
According to the criminal complaint, security video shows Zachary Vasa, 31, Marshfield, sitting in his cell reading a book.
Pointer entered Vasa’s cell, sat down, started to leave, but then turned around, grabbed Vasa’s book and threw it at his head, the complaint says.
Vasa picked up his book and continued reading.
Pointer then allegedly threw a punch at Vasa’s head and took the book to his own cell.
He returned to Vasa’s cell and punched him in the face again.
Vasa did not fight back or try to defend himself, the complaint says.
History of violence
Pointer has multiple convictions for violent offenses.
He was convicted of misdemeanor battery, disorderly conduct and criminal damage to property on Feb. 1, 2018, in Outagamie County.
His probation was revoked on Feb. 28, 2019, and he was sentenced to 12 months in jail, which he was allowed to serve in Waupaca County.
Pointer was convicted of battery and disorderly conduct on Feb. 16, 2018, in Waupaca County.
His probation was revoked on Feb. 1, 2019, and he was sentenced to one year in jail.
Vasa was a Wood County safekeeper at Waupaca at the time of the incident.
He was convicted of possession of narcotics. On Nov. 13, 2017, Vasa placed on three years of probation with the condition that he spend 120 days in jail on work release.
He failed to report to jail, and his work release privileges were revoked on March 8, 2018.
On April 29, 2019, Wood County charged Vasa with felony battery by a prisoner and disorderly conduct.
Vasa has since returned to Wood County jail, while Pointer remains in Waupaca County jail.