WINTON – Hertford County’s highest ranking deputy has been suspended with pay after being charged with assault on an inmate.

Hertford County Sheriff Juan Vaughan said that his Chief Deputy, Timothy Lassiter, was charged on Sunday with assault inflicting serious injury and simple assault.

Vaughan said the charges stem from a June 12 altercation in the court room involving inmate Troy Powell upon his transport back to the Detention Facility. Lassiter along with Deputy Charles Reynolds were on court duty that day. Powell alleged that Lassiter assaulted him, according to the Sheriff.

Powell, who lives in Bertie County, was already incarcerated on Hertford County charges for injury to personal property, driving while license were revoked and two counts of resisting a public officer.

Additional charges, connected with the June 12 incident, were filed against Powell, to include two counts of communicating threats, malicious conduct by prisoner, resisting a public officer, assault on government official, disorderly conduct, and assault with physical injury on a law enforcement officer.