Inmate gets 7 years for punching DuPage deputy

A DuPage County jail inmate, awaiting trial on a burglary charge, was sentenced Tuesday to seven years in prison for punching a deputy sheriff.

According to prosecutors, Jashaun Wright, 24, of Bellwood, punched a deputy who was attempting to retrieve Wright's meal tray from his cell on Oct. 3, 2013.

"(The deputy) was attempting to retrieve the defendant's meal tray and the defendant threw it on the ground. When the deputy told him to pick it up, he said words to the effect of 'No. You pick it up,'" said Assistant State's Attorney Enza LaMonica. "(Wright) then ran from the back of his cell, jumped in the air and punched (the deputy) in the face with a closed right fist, striking him on the left side of his face."

LaMonica said the deputy sustained facial injuries and a blood-filled mouth.

Prosecutors said Wright was in custody because he was arrested just days earlier, on Sept. 28, 2013 and charged with burglary, obstructing a peace officer, obstructing identification, resisting a peace officer and criminal damage to property.

According to court records, in that case, Wright was accused of burglarizing a T-Mobile store at 622 W. Lake Street in unincorporated DuPage County. He then allegedly gave police false identification, resisted arrest and damaged an officer's sunglasses while resisting.

Those charges were dropped Tuesday in exchange for Wright pleading guilty to the Oct. 3 aggravated battery of the deputy.

Wright requested and Judge Kathryn Creswell suggested Wright serve his sentence in the Illinois Department of Corrections' Impact Incarceration Program.