USP CANAAN INMATE FEDERALLY INDICTED FOR ALLEGED ASSAULT ON PRISON OFFICIAL AND POSSESSION OF MAKESHIFT RAZOR-BLADE WEAPON

SCRANTON, PENNSYLVANIA — A federal grand jury has indicted a 53-year-old inmate incarcerated at United States Penitentiary Canaan in Pennsylvania on charges involving the alleged assault of a federal prison official and unlawful possession of a makeshift weapon containing two razor blades. The indictment against Donald Hinley was announced on November 13, 2026, by U.S. Attorney Brian D. Miller for the Middle District of Pennsylvania. The charges stem from an incident that allegedly occurred inside the federal correctional facility on April 7, 2026, while a prison employee was performing official duties.

According to the federal indictment, Hinley assaulted an official at USP Canaan during the performance of that employee’s assigned responsibilities. Prosecutors also allege that Hinley possessed a weapon measuring approximately four and a half inches in length, constructed from plastic with two razor blades attached to one end. Both allegations concern the same date and form the basis of the federal criminal charges announced by the Justice Department.

The alleged possession of a modified razor-blade weapon presents a serious security concern within a correctional environment, where unauthorized sharp objects can endanger employees and incarcerated individuals. Improvised weapons manufactured from materials available inside correctional facilities pose distinct challenges because otherwise ordinary objects can be altered into instruments capable of causing significant injuries. The weapon described in the indictment contained two razor blades secured to a plastic body, although federal prosecutors did not specify how the object was constructed, recovered, or allegedly used during the incident.

The Justice Department’s announcement did not disclose the identity of the prison official, describe any injuries, or establish whether the alleged weapon was used during the assault. Federal authorities also did not provide additional circumstances surrounding the confrontation, including its location within the institution or the events immediately preceding it. The indictment identifies the alleged criminal conduct, while the specific facts supporting the prosecution remain subject to the federal judicial process.

United States Penitentiary Canaan is a federal correctional institution administered by the Federal Bureau of Prisons in northeastern Pennsylvania. Federal prison employees are responsible for maintaining institutional security, supervising incarcerated individuals, conducting searches, enforcing regulations, and responding to incidents that threaten the safety of the facility. Alleged assaults against employees performing these duties can result in additional federal criminal charges, separate from any disciplinary measures administered within the prison system.

The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Prisons’ Special Investigative Service in cooperation with the FBI Philadelphia Field Office’s Capital Area Resident Agency. The Special Investigative Service examines suspected criminal activity and serious security incidents within federal correctional institutions, while FBI involvement provides additional federal investigative resources for offenses falling under its jurisdiction. The participating agencies investigated the allegations before the case was presented to a federal grand jury.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Anthony R. Williamson is prosecuting the case for the Middle District of Pennsylvania. According to the Justice Department, the maximum penalty under federal law is 13 years of imprisonment, followed by a term of supervised release and a fine. If convicted, Hinley’s sentence would be determined by a federal judge after consideration of the applicable federal statutes, sentencing guidelines, and circumstances established through the proceedings.

Donald Hinley remains presumed innocent of the charges contained in the indictment unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

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