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Last updated on Friday, June 12, 2015
(SULLIVAN CO.) - A man serving a 73-year prison term for killing a 22-year-old Bloomington pizza delivery driver in 2011 is now facing battery charges with a deadly weapon.
James Finney is serving his sentence at the Wabash Valley Correctional Facility in Sullivan County. He is now accused of an unprovoked attack against a fellow inmate. Finney is accused of hitting that inmate with a padlock attached to a strip of cloth.
The victim, who is serving a 30-year sentence for attempted murder, kidnapping, robbery and battery, suffered multiple cuts to his head that required 37 staples to close.
According to a Department of Corrections report, the victim told investigators he had been moved to Finney's housing unit just an hour before he was attacked. He did not know Finney or why he attacked him.
Finney admitted to attacking the man and told police he did so after the other inmate was "mean mugging" him. Finney denied the attack was gang related, but according to police Finney was in the process of becoming a member of the Aryan Brotherhood.
A videotape of the incident shows 26-year-old Finney hitting the man in the head repeatedly with the homemade weapon. The two men fought for about two minutes before prison staff could stop them.
Finney is now facing charges of being a habitual offender and battery with a deadly weapon. If found guilty years will be added to his sentence.
A hearing in the case is set for August 28. The victim told police he will not testify against Finney.
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