NC prisons chief stepping down after fatal escape attempt

David Guice has served as chief deputy secretary for adult correction and juvenile justice in the Department of Public Safety since 2013. A former lawmaker from western North Carolina, he also served previously as the director of Community Corrections.

Corrections officer Justin Smith, 35, and Correction Enterprises manager Veronica Darden, 50, were killed in the Oct. 12 escape attempt. Ten other prison employees and four inmates were injured during the incident.

Four inmates were charged Friday with two counts of first-degree murder for the deaths of Smith and Darden: Mikel Brady, 28, Jonathan Monk, 30, Seth J. Frazier, 33, and Wisezah Buckman, 29. Authorities said other charges are pending against them.

All four have been moved to Central Prison or Polk Correctional Institution in Butner for higher security.

Secretary of Public Safety Erik Hooks has permanently closed the sewing plant at the prison where the attack began and has ordered a review of all inmates assigned to work in Correction Enterprises operations in prisons statewide. Any who have been convicted of a violent crime against a government official or law enforcement officer will be barred from working with cutting or "impact tools" without approval of prison officials while those convicted of any assault will be temporarily suspended from such activities, he said.

Hooks also requested that the National Institute of Corrections conduct a review of the safety and security operations at the prison, as well as all aspects of Correction Enterprises’ safety protocols, including staffing patterns, inmate worker placement assessments, training and operating procedures.

The state also will form an advisory committee to recommend new technology and devices to enhance the safety of prison and Correction Enterprises staff, prison facilities and plant operations, Hooks said.

An acting chief deputy secretary will be named in the coming days, officials said.