An inmate of Butler County Prison accused of beating another prisoner was removed from his preliminary hearing by multiple officers Monday, Oct. 24.

Michael P. Reinhart, 44, had charges filed against him in July for felony counts of aggravated assault, assault by a prisoner and criminal conspiracy. Butler County Detectives filed the charges.

Reinhart was charged alongside fellow inmate Keith P. Reges in connection to the alleged assault. Reges waived his right to a preliminary hearing Oct. 17 and will appear in Common Pleas Court in December.

Flanked by multiple law enforcement officers, Reinhart was led to the jury box in a Butler County Courthouse courtroom. He told District Judge William T. Fullerton that he objected to the placement due to his inability to speak with his defense attorney Rebecca Black.

“I believe my attorney-client privilege is being violated,” he said.

Fullerton said that Black would communicate with Reinhart throughout the hearing.

Reinhart also attempted to request different representation through various objections, all of which Fullerton overruled.

“I’m not going to dignify that,” he said. “I find it to be incredible.”

Assistant district attorney Laura Pitchford called Tim Fennell, chief detective, to testify. Fennell provided video surveillance footage of the assault, which authorities allege had happened around 3:36 p.m. June 25 in the jail multipurpose room.

During the video and Fennell’s statement, Reinhart attempted to interrupt multiple times, shouting to Black to make objections.

“I will make an objection when it is appropriate,” Black said.

When Pitchford asked Fennell to identify the inmate that the suspect was alleged to have assaulted, Reinhart interjected again.

“He’s a (redacted) rat,” he said.

Following additional outbursts of obscenities from Reinhart, Fullerton asked him to be removed from the courtroom. As multiple officers escorted him out, Reinhart threatened Fennell and Black.

According to previous reports, Reinhart was in jail on other charges at the time of the assault that is alleged to have occurred.

In September 2021, police arrested Reinhart and charged him with terroristic threats and criminal mischief after officers said he threatened to kill multiple people, including the officers.

Police filed new charges against Reinhart after an Oct. 29 incident at the Cranberry Township Magistrate’s Office. Police said Reinhart was brought to the magistrate for a preliminary hearing for the September case, and after the hearing, Reinhart barricaded himself in a holding area.

Police said he also had thrown chairs and other objects at officers and threatened to kill officers throughout the incident.

Reinhart remains in Butler County Prison.

Reinhart was charged alongside Reges, 35, in connection to the assault that the authorities allege to have occurred. Reges waived his right to a preliminary hearing Oct. 17 and will appear in Common Pleas Court in December.