An inmate in the Carbon County prison has been charged with assaulting another inmate at the jail.

Nesquehoning police charged Malcolm Steven Harris, 30, with simple assault and harassment.

On Dec. 31, 2017, officer Richard Neikam was called to the jail by prison personnel concerning an assault. The victim, another inmate, reported Harris struck him on the side of the head. He said Harris was mad because the cell block was searched after correction officers observed a fresh tattoo on the victim.

The victim said the guards were looking for the instrument he used to give himself a tattoo.

A witness verified the victim’s statement. Harris was asked about the incident but declined to talk to Neikam.