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An Altoona man awaiting trial on multiple burglary charges has filed a petition with the U.S. District Court in Johnstown complaining about conditions in the Blair County Prison.
Asher Trainer, 31, has been an inmate in the 157-year-old facility since last Nov. 25 after he was arrested as part of a burglary ring that allegedly operated in Blair and Cambria counties as well as Maryland and West Virginia.
Trainer late last week filed a petition in the Federal Court seeking to join a class action lawsuit that was filed by another inmate last October.
Since the class action was filed by inmate Donald Meyer, more than 20 other inmates sought to join the lawsuit.
However, so far, there has been no action to move the lawsuit forward.
Like most of those seeking to become part of the class action, Trainer focused on the conditions of imprisonment rather than the specifics of the criminal charges he faces.
He noted that when he entered the prison, he was placed for a time in a cell with five other males.
Trainer also reported that the showers in the prison were covered with black mold and the mold was simply painted over.
He complained about the drug-smuggling in the prison.
He stated that he was subject to "many health code violations."
Trainer, for instance, pointed out that, while working with the kitchen crew, the septic system backed up, allowing an inch or two of septic waste to collect, during which time the food continued to be distributed.
There was a lot of "mice activity and mice feces" in the kitchen, Trainer stated in his lawsuit.
He was eventually housed in the Restricted Housing Unit of the prison, noting he was denied cleaning supplies while there.
While in the RHU, he stated he was given no rec time or time in the law library.
He stated he was denied contact with his family and his lawyer.
His lawsuit has listed prison officials, a former warden, the prison board, Blair judges, the Blair DA and "Blair County code enforcement" as defendants in the case.
County officials, including a new warden, Michael Hale, are aware of and have been addressing the overcrowding at the prison, medical care, the rodent problem and other issues that were mentioned in the most recent inmate lawsuit.
However, plans for a new prison for the moment are on hold.
Trainer concluded in his lawsuit, "The Prison is a safe keeper, yet they do not keep inmates safe."
He complained the prison has broken equipment, food served in unsanitary conditions and, he complained, "Inmates overdose all the time."
"We are forced to breathe in black mold and nothing (is) done and for these reasons the petitioner (Trainer) is requesting to join the class action suit," he stated.
The Trainer lawsuit has been referred for review to Magistrate Judge Peter E. Ormsby, who presides in Pittsburgh.
Ormsby commented for the record last week that any of the inmates who have indicated a desire to join the class action can select to prosecute their own claim, noting the Clerk of Court has a packet of information on how to proceed independently.
Trainer's criminal charges are awaiting trial court review.