Shelby County Inmate Faces Lengthy Prison Term

A Shelby County jury Wednesday returned a guilty verdict against Decatur resident Joshua White for aggravated battery to a correctional institution employee, that resulted in injury to the correctional officer.

The jury deliberated just seven minutes before returning a unanimous guilty verdict.

White was an inmate in Shelby County Jail on July 27, 2021 and became angry when corrections officers directed him back to his cell following dinner. Shelby County State's Attorney Nichole Kroncke said White initially complied, but when officers began to shut the cell door, White charged one of the officers, grabbed and struck the officer on the left side of his head with a closed fist and threatened to kill the officer.

The injured officer received medical treatment, suffered a concussion, and missed several days of work following the attack.

White’s $100,000 bond was revoked after the verdicts were read. He will remain in the Shelby County Jail until his sentencing hearing on May 16. Miller faces a potential sentence of up to 14 years in prison.