A quarrel in the Butler County Prison that started over sugar led to one inmate attacking another so badly that he may need reconstructive surgery to repair his badly broken nose.

“The county’s probably going to have to pick up a heckuva bill,” Pat Cannon, county chief detective, said of the injured inmate’s likely medical costs.

Cannon on Wednesday charged Cheino S. Allen, 20, of Detroit with aggravated assault and assault by prisoner, both felonies. Allen also is charged with reckless endangerment.

Allen is accused of attacking inmate Lucas Cressler, 19, of Natrona Heights, Allegheny County, on Nov. 20 in Cressler’s cell.

“There was a lot of blood in that cell afterward,” Cannon said.

Earlier that day, the bad blood between the two started in the kitchen area where Cressler was assigned to work.

Cressler was placing containers of sugar on a tray in the morning when Allen reached over and moved one of the containers, authorities said.

The two exchanged words but nothing else. However, other inmates sensed the matter was not resolved.

“I was told the prisoners were betting commissary on who was going to win the fight,” Cannon said.

Later that night, Allen allegedly ambushed Cressler in the younger man’s cell.

“This was no mutual fight,” Cannon said. “This was an assault.”

Officials said Cressler was punched several times in the back of his head. When Cressler turned around, Allen cold cocked him in the face.

“He blasted him,” Cannon said. “(Cressler’s) nose was laying on the side of his face. His shirt was soaked in blood.”

Cressler was taken to Butler Memorial Hospital and later taken to an eye, ear and nose specialist for further treatment.

While prison surveillance video showed Allen walking toward Cressler’s cell, it did not show the alleged assault.

However, during a telephone call Allen made Monday from the prison to an unidentified woman, he made a “complete admission” to the assault, according to court documents.

All prison phone calls are recorded with inmates’ knowledge.

District Judge Pete Shaffer on Wednesday arraigned Allen on charges, and set bail at $150,000 straight cash.

Allen had been in the jail on $25,000 since Oct. 26 when he was arrested on theft-related and drug charges following a traffic stop in Butler Township.

Cannon said that after the alleged attack, Allen was moved to the prison’s restricted housing unit.