ROCKLAND, Maine — A 35-year-old Rockport man faces a felony assault charge after police said he beat another inmate over a dispute about a television remote control.
Jason Cockerline was charged Monday with aggravated assault.
Cockerline has been held at the Knox County Jail in Rockland since this summer, when he was charged by Rockport police with burglary and violating a condition of release.
According to an affidavit filed by Deputy John Palmer with the sheriff’s office, he was called to the jail shortly after 4 p.m. Sunday to investigate the alleged assault. The deputy reviewed the videotape from the television room and witnessed Cockerline knee another inmate in the head and then punch him numerous times in the face and body, according to the affidavit.
The deputy determined that the other inmate was not the aggressor and did not fight Cockerline. The other inmate suffered a broken tooth.
Sheriff Donna Dennison said the assault was the result of a dispute over the remote control to the television. She said she did not know what television show Cockerline wanted to watch.
Cockerline made his initial court appearance Monday afternoon in Rockland District Court. He was ordered to have no contact with the alleged victim in the assault.
He wanted to watch Judge Judy.
More like Cops or Jail on spike tv……..
“Yo dog…hand over that remote.””Dancing with the stars is on.”
“Not a chance homey.””Nancy Grace is on.”
Chaos ensues……
In a real prison inmates are fighting over who can use the good sledge hammer to bust up rocks. No wonder the recidivism rate is so high.
Nah, only in old prison movies — might chop brush way Down South, but there’s no rock breaking anymore. Plenty of bawl-breaking tho. LOL
All those dude wanna watch is “baywatch”, that’s it. 24/7
Here’s an idea.No t.v. for inmates. Hard time.Should not be a country club. Geez.
As a rule it usually keeps them happy.
It isn’t a country club. Have you been there? Don’t think so.
Yeah i have been is most jails in maine and yeah they are a joke sleep all day if you want then go out and eat if you want. So yeah they should be tougher then a cup cake jail.
Does the warden know you are on the ‘net?
Thats a good one but its the truth maine needs to do something about this, oh i got to go back to jail and do nothing and its going to cost me nothing thats not a bad deal
There is no arguing your point, I holeheartedly agree. But it would be nice to find a way to make the punishment fit the crime.
Not just Maine by any means, coast-to-coast, nationwide — jails and prisons are the only ‘growth industries’ left. The Prison Industrial Complex is right there in the background supplying everything from bar soap and uniforms and ink pens to little county lock-ups and major state systems. The Sheriff of LA County Jail, 10,000 people in the main jail, was quoted as saying he runs the biggest homeless shelter in the world.
Make no mistake about it, this is now part of life in America. The blue collar working class is mostly gone, sold to the highest bidders. Turn 18, graduate from HS and best of luck with anything after that — fifteen people showing up to apply for one job opening at WalMart. But don’t complain, smoke weed, get drunk or you’ll go to the jail. And the wheels on the bus go round and round…
The US has the world’s largest number of prisoners incarcerated at this time; says a lot about the USA…..
Wal-Mart pays their warehouse workers $ 17 per hour.. Oh wait, you actually have to work if you want a job there. I predict that Obama will take the early lead, that is until the Republicans get out of work !!
That’s a sad truth within the prison systems. Many (when released) have no where to live and no one will hire them because of their criminal history so, they commit another crime and end up back in prison where they are taken care of or they commit suicide. It’s much like the movie, Shawshank Redemption. There should be more opportunities for those that have served their time and now want to make their lives better. I understand that there are halfway houses for them, but that is just really for their transitioning back into society.
I call bull****
Lets here your reason i would like to know how you can tell?
Watch the old movie “Papillion”.Now THATS a prison!!!!
Actually stuff like television, books, games etc keep them occupied as a precaution to the GUARDS there. Idle hands == devils play ground and all that. If you’re spending your time watching TV..you’re not spending your time making weapons and firebombs (coffeemate and toilet paper shhhh).
I know it sounds cushy. I’ve been there…no amount of TV/reading/playing-cards makes you forget that you are in a concrete box, following someone elses orders…while your friends and family are out there being free.
Let’s face it, some people in this life are just all about doing what we all wish we could do.
And being in prison.
There might be a connection there for the philosophically inclined.
I am a Baby Boomer and I love my tv as much as the next person. That said, it is just not worth it to have a physical altercation with someone over a tv show.
Real Wives of Lewiston was on.
I SAID “Wheel Of Fortune,” dammit! Judge Judy is a repeat…
I thought it was just me who throws a fit whenever “Dr. Phil” comes on and somebody tries to change the channel……
Put him in solitary confinement – with no tv……
Sheriff Dennison said she didn’t know what show they were fighting about Does it make a difference?
He wanted to watch Midnight Express
“Say Yes to the Dress”
No dangit! “Here Comes Honey-Boo-Boo”
Oh, heck, why don’t we just read a book.
I would if I could read.
I didn’t realize that inmates were allowed to have a remote to the t.v. – I thought that the guards were the ones in control of the remote. Huh…