GREENVILLE – The victim in a Tuesday morning stabbing in Northampton County remains hospitalized here at Vidant Medica lCenter where he has undergone a second surgery.

Meanwhile, his alleged attacker, 44-year-old James Bell of Jackson, remains behind bars under a $275,000 bond on the charges of attempted first degree murder, and assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury.

On Friday, Northampton County Sheriff’s Detective Sgt. Lynette Clements visited 47-year-old Ronald Vaughan at the Greenville hospital. Clements said Vaughan has already had a second surgical procedure performed in an effort to treat a punctured lung.

Vaughan, also of Jackson, was hospitalized after being allegedly stabbed by Bell. Both men are employed as correctional officers at Odom Prison, located near Jackson. The incident occurred at 6:10 a.m. on April 30 off prison property at a small country store located at the end of the road leading to the correctional facility, according to Northampton Sheriff Wardie Vincent. Vaughan reportedly suffered severe lacerations to his arms as well as stab wounds to his neck and back.

Vincent said the physical altercation between the two officers occurred off Odom Prison property. However, he said the event leading up to the stabbing actually began inside the prison’s walls.

“From what we can ascertain at this point there was a misunderstanding between the two officers over some paperwork and a disagreement ensued,” Vincent stated. “At some point during that disagreement, a statement was made by one of the officers that, ‘I’ll meet you at the store when you leave work.’ It was at that store where the two men met and a tussle took place. Mr. Bell allegedly pulled a knife and cut Mr. Vaughan several times.”

Vincent said Vaughan was a veteran officer at Odom, working there over 20 years. He added that Bell was in his first year as a correctional officer.