Big Island inmate to receive large settlement in case over a stolen lunch box

He could face up to five years behind bars if convicted.
He could face up to five years behind bars if convicted.(Hawaii News Now/File)
Published: Apr. 30, 2019 at 10:08 PM HST
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HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - The state will pay a Big Island inmate more than $100,000 in a settlement after he claimed guards beat him up over a lunch box.

In the lawsuit, Zachary Smith said he stole an officer’s lunch box while he was an inmate at the Hawaii Community Correctional Center.

As a result, the lawsuit said that corrections officers punched and kicked him, and bashed his head against a wall.

The lawsuit also alleges that officers failed to provide proper medical care following the incident.

The state public safety department agreed to pay Smith $125,000.

Lawmakers approved the settlement Tuesday.

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