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New details in courthouse attack

Posted at 11:31 PM, Jul 11, 2012
and last updated 2012-07-12 06:44:34-04

AMELIA COUNTY, Va (WTVR)- Joseph Greene, a convicted felon who faced 22 years for a burglary charge, now faces even more jail time, according to Amelia Sheriff Ricky Walker.

Last week, Walker said, Greene tried to escape the Amelia courthouse prior to a hearing. In the process he's accused of assaulting a Sheriff's Deputy, the Amelia Commonwealth’s Attorney and a courthouse custodian.

The details of what happened at the Amelia County Courthouse last Thursday are slowly surfacing. Details that include what inmate Joseph Greene was wearing, how he broke free from ankle restraints and what new felony charges he could face.

“Attempted capital murder of a police officer, because of attacking the deputy, is something certainly, but the [special] prosecutor will make the ultimate decision," said Walker.

Amelia prosecutor Lee Harrison will not try the case because of his involvement and the fact that he was injured by the inmate.

"It’s up to a circuit court judge to appoint a special prosecutor and most likely the judge will recuse himself,” said Walker.  “Then a higher court will appoint another circuit court judge."

Law enforcement sources told CBS 6 Greene’s hand restraints were removed so he could use the bathroom. Those sources claim Greene used a small pin to pick the ankle restraint chains that sheriff’s deputies said he eventually used in the attack.

The Sources also said Greene had three layers of clothing on. Piedmont Regional Jail Superintendent Ernest Toney told CBS 6 wearing  three pairs of underwear and socks is not against policy.

"We are working closely with Piedmont Jail to find out how he left the facility like that,” said Walker.

Both the Amelia Sheriff's office and Piedmont Regional Jail are conducting separate investigations.  Walker added the valor that his deputy, the commonwealth’s attorney, custodian and dispatchers showed speaks volumes about their character.

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