Prosecutors have charged a second inmate in connection with a violent altercation at Wisconsin’s youth prison that left a counselor brain-dead. Seventeen-year-old Rian Nyblom faces charges in Lincoln County Circuit Court for his involvement in the incident at Lincoln Hills-Copper Lake Schools in Irma.
The charges include being a party to felony murder-battery and two counts of being a party to battery by a prisoner. Judge Galen Bayne-Allison set a $20,000 cash bond for Nyblom during his initial court appearance on Thursday. Nyblom’s attorney, Jessica Fehrenbach, has not yet commented on the case.
Court documents reveal that a 16-year-old inmate, angered by a perceived abuse of power by a 25-year-old female counselor, initiated the altercation by throwing soap at her, followed by punching her and then 49-year-old counselor Corey Proulx. Proulx fell, hitting his head on the concrete, and was declared brain-dead on Tuesday afternoon.
Photo: Corey Proulx was a beloved community member and youth counselor in Wisconsin
The 16-year-old has been charged as an adult with second-degree reckless homicide, felony murder-battery, and two counts of battery by a prisoner. His identity remains undisclosed as his case might be transferred to juvenile court.
According to the latest complaint, Nyblom admitted to knowing the 16-year-old’s plans and providing him with soap and conditioner shortly before the incident. While Nyblom did not witness the initial attack on the female counselor, he saw the assault on Proulx and the counselor’s subsequent injuries.
Nyblom is also facing charges of disorderly conduct and criminal damage to property in Eau Claire, dating back to May.
Proulx remained on life support as of Thursday, with his family planning to donate his organs. Lincoln Hills-Copper Lake, Wisconsin’s sole youth prison, has faced numerous allegations of staff misconduct, prompting oversight by a court-appointed monitor.
