30 years in prison for the inmate who attacked corrections officer Larry Basford

MARIANNA – An inmate who seriously injured a corrections officer by picking him up and throwing him onto concrete was sentenced to 30 years in prison Tuesday, State Attorney Larry Basford announced.

Joshua J. Lawson, 28, of Graceville Correctional Facility, was found guilty Tuesday of battery on a law enforcement officer. Commanding Officer Matthew Sanders suffered a broken hip when he was thrown from a height of approximately 5 feet on March 18, 2021. On April 7, 2021, while recovering at home from his injuries, Captain Sanders suffered an embolism and died.

The defendant was in the facility serving a 10-year prison sentence for four crimes committed in 2016 in Broward County – two counts of robbery with a deadly weapon, one count of attempted robbery with a deadly weapon, and theft of a motor vehicle.

Jackson County Chief Prosecutor Shalla Jefcoat called six witnesses and presented evidence showing that on March 18, 2021, the defendant was verbally disrespectful to employees and refused to follow staff rules and orders.

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The accused refused to submit to handcuffs. According to the testimony, the defendant swung at Captain Sanders when he tried to apply hand protection. During the struggle, the defendant managed to grab Captain Sanders by the lower torso, lift him and throw him onto the concrete.

The remaining prison staff then overpowered the accused.

Basford said his prayers remain with Captain Sanders’ family and loved ones. He thanked all the corrections staff for their work and the Florida Department of Corrections for initiating the investigation.

For more information, contact Mike Cazalas at [email protected] or call 850-381-7454.