HUTCHINSON, Kan. – A 45-year-old inmate currently being housed at the El Dorado Correctional Facility on some serious convictions has been charged in Reno County with two counts of battery of a corrections officer.

The crimes by Richard Powell are alleged to have occurred at the Hutchinson Correctional Facility back on Sept. 11, the same day that a fire was reported in Central Unit, C-cell house. But, Assistant District Attorney Tom Stanton tell us the two incidents are not connected. Powell allegedly battered two prison officers on that date.

With the charges filed, his case will move to a waiver-status docket next month.

Powell is serving time for intentional premeditated murder, criminal possession of a firearm, traffic in contraband, voluntary manslaughter and aggravated assault. All of these crimes occurring in Wyandotte County in 1992 and 1998.