A man imprisoned for killing Jay Hahn of West Penn Township for $54 and a pair of sneakers last year now stands accused of attacking his cellmate with a weapon fashioned from a pen and a staple.

Ethan M. Sullivan, 22, was in Schuylkill County jail when he injured Bradley Merwine with a crude "tattoo gun" on Aug. 17.He's charged with aggravated assault and assault by a prisoner, both felonies; misdemeanor charges of possession of an instrument of crime, recklessly endangering another person, and simple assault; and a summary offense of harassment.Sullivan is serving 30-60 years in the state prison at Camp Hill for killing Hahn in 2014.A preliminary hearing on the new charges was scheduled for Nov. 9, but was continued. A new date has yet to be set.According to an affidavit of probable cause filed with District Judge James Reiley of Pottsville by Pottsville police officer Jonathan D. Randolph, here's what happened:At 10:32 p.m. Aug. 17, Randolph was dispatched to the jail on a report of an assault.There, he learned Sullivan had allegedly assaulted his cellmate, Bradley Merwine, 36, with a pen that had a staple attached to the end.Randolph saw a large amount of blood on Merwine's pillow, on the bottom bunk.Merwine, who was serving 23 months for shoplifting, told Randolph that Sullivan had received a letter from the court or from the Children & Youth Services agency that made him angry.Sullivan would continually say to him, "I'm sick of people like you" or "I'm tired of people like you," Merwine told police.He told Randolph they were waiting on their last check by correctional officers when Sullivan pinned him in the corner of his bunk and began stabbing him with the "tattoo gun."All the while, Sullivan was again saying "I'm sick of people like you."Merwine had minor cuts, about 2 inches long, on the top of his head, a small puncture wound on the side of his head, and irritation on his neck.He was treated by prison staff.The supervisor, Lt. David Whitman, gave Randolph his report. The report said Sullivan had been pacing in the cell before stabbing Merwine.Sullivan had told Whitman "it had just all built up" and that he "jumped off his bunk and paced a bit" before telling Merwine "you want to run your mouth now" before stabbing him with the pen.Sullivan said a "fight would not send the message, that it had to be more severe."Sullivan on June 25 pleaded guilty to third-degree murder, aggravated assault, and robbery in the death of Jason "Jay" Hahn, 22, and Schuylkill County Judge James Goodman sentenced him to 30 to 60 years in state prison.Hahn's body was found at around 5 p.m. June 21 in a wooded area along Silver Creek Road in Blythe Township, about 1½ miles from New Philadelphia.According to court documents, Sullivan drove to where Hahn was staying at 557 Blue Mountain Road at about 1 a.m. June 15. He and Hahn talked, then left in a Jeep Sullivan was driving.They ended up in Blythe Township, where Sullivan took a metal bar from the Jeep and struck Hahn in the head several times, police said.When Hahn collapsed, Sullivan stole $54, Hahn's ID and several other cards from his wallet.He also removed the battery from Hahn's cellphone, and took his sneakers.He wrapped Hahn in a blue tarp, and tossed his body down an embankment.Sullivan put several logs on top of the tarp, and tried to burn the Jeep before fleeing.Hahn's body was found by people riding an all-terrain vehicle.State police interviewed Sullivan, already in Schuylkill County jail on burglary charges, later that day, and he confessed, but has never given a reason for his actions.