Darin Shay

A man was sentenced to jail for having a shank, or makeshift weapon, while he was in the Butler County Prison last year.

Darin R. Shay, 50, of Fenelton pleaded guilty July 9 to possession of a weapon or implement of escape by an inmate. Judge William Shaffer on Thursday sentenced Shay to six months to one year in jail, followed by one year of probation. Shay was immediately paroled after receiving credit for time already served. At the time of the charge, Shay was being held in the county jail for another case. Shaffer also sentenced Shay on Thursday for that original case.

County detectives said they found Shay in September 2019 with rudimentary weapons — pieces of epoxy flooring with pointy edges. The larger of the two pieces, according to investigators, was “sharp to a point.”

Corrections officers searched the cell and found a piece of flooring under the bunk bed. The tile, detectives noted, was sharp enough that it was “capable of causing substantial damage to a person.”

Officers found a second piece of flooring that was inside a book in the cell. The defendant allegedly acknowledged that he used a toothbrush and tube of toothpaste to pry off the tile.

“Shay admitted to damaging the cell,” according to charging documents, “and stated that he wanted the pieces for a sample to have the same flooring put into his garage at home.”

Shay must also pay $85 in restitution to the Butler County Prison.

Shay happened to be in jail at the time after being accused of threatening to shoot and kill his girlfriend during an altercation at their home on Irwin Road.

In that case, Shay pleaded guilty July 9 to two counts of terroristic threats and recklessly endangering another person.

For that, he was sentenced to five-and-a-half to 11 months in jail. Shay also received credit for time already served in this case, allowing him to be immediately paroled.