2 Inmates Take Correction Officer Hostage in Vermont Prison

The inmates were identified as Mehmed Devac and Leroy Hughes

Two Vermont prisoners took a guard hostage with a bladed object Aug. 11 at the Northern State Correctional Facility in Newport.

Authorities tell necn affiliate NBC5 the hostage situation began around 12:45 p.m. and was resolved around 3:15 p.m. after hours of negotiations. No staff members or inmates were injured.

The inmates were identified as Mehmed Devac and Leroy Hughes. The corrections officer was identified as 51-year-old Malcolm Brown.

Devac, 22, was convicted of assault and robbery with injury, aggravated assault and multiple other misdemeanors. He has been incarcerated at the prison since October of 2015 and is set to be released between May of 2020 and May of 2032.

Hughes, 32, committed grand larceny, as well as assault and robbery with a weapon. Though he was put in prison in June of 2015, he has only been at Northern State Correctional Facility since Feb. 9 of this year. His earliest possible release date is in March of 2019, with the latest being in March of 2032.

Both prisoners were arrested and charged with aggravated assault and kidnapping.

They are both scheduled to be arraigned in Orleans County Criminal Court on Oct. 18.

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