Convicted sex offender attacked in court by another prisoner
DOVER, New Hampshire -- Just minutes after learning his sentence, a convicted sex offender was attacked Thursday in the back of the courtroom by another prisoner.
WMUR's cameras captured the moment Christopher Elwell, who had just been sentenced to 7 1/2 to 15 years for sexually assaulting a four-year-old girl, was headbutted by Josiah Davies.
Davies, who was shackled, was awaiting arraignment and a hearing on a probation violation when he attacked him.
The sexual assault that Elwell was convicted of happened in Dover back on June 24th into the 25th.
The victim came over to a home where Elwell was staying. A nine-year-old and another four-year-old girl were also there.
"They described him showing them videos of sexual acts similar to the ones that she had done," Assistant Strafford County Attorney Emily Conant said.
Initially, Elwell denied the accusations, but in court Thursday, he admitted they were true.
Elwell also pleaded guilty for failing to register as a sex offender, having been convicted on a different charge back in 2008.
The assistant county attorney also told the judge the victim's mother doesn't believe that Elwell will stop assaulting young girls and would have liked him to be sentenced to more time.
The judge appeared to reluctantly accept the plea bargain, saying that by doing so, it spares the young victim the pain of testifying during trial and being forced to relive the events.
