Virginia inmate faces charges after officials said he admitted to attacking correctional officer

NOTTOWAY COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) -- An inmate of a Virginia Department of Corrections facility has been indicted after officials said he admitted to attacking a correctional officer.

According to VADOC, an inmate now faces two felony charges after reportedly attacking a correction officer at Nottoway Correctional Center in February.

Hunter Dale Lee Runion, 28, was indicted Tuesday, March 4 by the grand jury of Nottoway County and charged with malicious wounding and assault of a correctional officer.

The attack reportedly took place on the morning of Saturday, Feb. 15. The department said Runion repeatedly hit the officer in the head and face using the officer's radio device. The officer was taken to a nearby hospital to be treated for injuries.

VADOC said that Runion admitted to assaulting the officer because he was "upset" that the officer was going to carry out an institutional infraction against him for an earlier incident where Runion pushed an officer in the face.

“Attacks on our corrections professionals will never be tolerated, and we will always seek
prosecution to the fullest extent of the law,” said VADOC Director Chad Dotson. “I wish the
officer involved in this despicable assault the best in his recovery. Thank you to our OLES
Special Agents for their thorough investigation in this case.”

Runion's prosecution is pending in Nottoway County Circuit Court.