During a Friday morning court hearing, a Silverdale Detention Center inmate again told a Hamilton County Criminal Court judge that he had to “cause a scene” at least twice in order to receive his prescribed daily medication and that inmates weren’t being provided with masks or cleaning supplies to help protect themselves from COVID-19.
Local attorney Chad Wilson has been fighting to have his client Tommie Lyons’ one-year jail sentence amended after learning Lyons contracted COVID-19 in the Hamilton County Jail and had not been receiving his prescribed daily medication and weekly blood work for a potentially deadly pre-existing condition that has left Lyons immunocompromised.
Criminal Court Judge Don Poole, concerned at the alleged failure to provide Lyons with his medication as prescribed, has held three hearings to ensure the medications are being administered but has stopped short of issuing any orders about the medication or the alleged lack of COVID-19 precautions. A fourth update hearing will take place later this month.
Since the last hearing on Dec. 18, the Hamilton County Jail has been closed and all inmates transferred to Silverdale. CoreCivic, the private company that operated Silverdale, ended its contract with the county, meaning operational control of the facility has returned to the sheriff’s office. That is why Poole has held multiple hearings – to ensure Lyons doesn’t see a lapse in care during the transition.
During Friday’s hearing, Lyons said he missed his medication at least twice in recent weeks and received it late on two other days after he “caused a scene” by waiting outside his cell and almost getting sprayed with pepper spray, he said.