According to a press release from 9th Judicial District Attorney General Russell Johnson, Morgan County Correctional Complex (MCCX) inmate Shawn Tate has entered a guilty plea to using a prison made “ice pick” to assault Corrections Officer John Evans. The incident, which resulted in the felony charges and convictions of Aggravated Assault and Possession of a Weapon in a Penal Facility occurred on October 1, 2024. It reportedly left Officer Evans with permanent nerve damage and mobility issues to his arm.
At the time of the assault, Tate was already serving an eight-year prison sentence. That sentence has since expired and he was released from prison. As a result of the new conviction on both felony charges, Tate will be returned to the Tennessee Department of Correction to serve ten years at 100% of the sentence – with the possibility of up to 15% ‘good time’ sentencing credit. (Photo Courtesy DAG Johnson.)
