Two men are facing added charges after incidents at the Woods County Jail.

Eric Peralta, 34, of Alva, is charged with possession of contraband (weapons) by an inmate, a felony, punishable by imprisonment in the state penitentiary for five to 20 years. He is also charged with a misdemeanor of assault and battery.

Dylan Michael Garrison Knierim, 26, of Waynoka, is also charged with assault and battery, a misdemeanor.

According to court records, on Sept. 13 about 7 p.m. inmate Joshua Edwards reported to the jailer he had been physically assaulted the previous night in the general population cell, commonly referred to as the bullpen. Edwards showed Deputy David Cummings a fresh cut on the right side of his head with a dried substance over the wound. Edwards explained that after he was assaulted, another inmate put toothpaste over the wound.

Edwards said he was lying on his mat when he began getting harassed. He said he had his blanket covering his face so he was unable to see who kicked him in the head. Edwards chose not to write a statement. At this time he had already been separated from inmates in the bullpen and placed with inmates with whom he felt safe. Jail staff let him know he would be given the opportunity to file charges if he changed his mind.

On Sept. 16 Edwards requested a voluntary statement form to fill out. He told Deputy Cummings he wanted charges filed. Asked if he knew who assaulted him, Edwards said Peralta is the one who made him drink water from the toilet. He said he was also the one who put toothpaste over his wound after he had been kicked in the head.

Cumming spoke with Peralta who said he had nothing to say about a fight in the bullpen.

Another inmate who wished to remain anonymous said Knierim is the one who kicked Edwards in the head while he was lying on the mat. The inmate said Peralta was the one ordering Edwards around. He said no one else was involved.

Cummings attempted to conduct an interview with Knierim who had recently bonded out of jail. He agreed to a time and date but did not show up. Cummings later spoke with Knierim’s mother and asked that he contact him. He had not done so before charges were filed.

Cummings later viewed jail surveillance footage of the bullpen from Sept. 12. He observed Edwards on his mat. He observed other inmates approaching him repeatedly while he was lying on his mat covered up with his blanket. Cummings noted it appeared from body language the other inmates were attempting to instigate a confrontation. At approximately 7:09 p.m. inmate Knierim is seen walking toward Edwards and seen kicking him one time. At approximately 7:11 p.m. Knierim is seen standing near Edwards. Edwards rises to his feet and follows Peralta into the south cell of the bullpen. Directly behind Edwards is Knierim. The three disappear into the cell. This is where Edwards explains toothpaste was applied to his wound and he was made to drink toilet water. Edwards is not seen exiting the cell once they entered it.

The felony charge against Peralta comes from an incident on Sept. 5 when he was being prepared for transport to Share Medical Center Urgent Care. Deputy Chase Bouziden conducted a pat search and felt a hard object wrapped into the cuff of Peralta’s sweatpants which were under his orange jumpsuit. Bouziden pulled out the concealed object and found a blue razor with blades in it. Peralta told Bouziden he forgot it was there.

Peralta was taken back to the jail where an unclothed search was conducted. No other contraband was found.