Father of inmate beaten in jail attack says it was preventable

According to the Cumberland County Sheriff's Office, what happened Thursday at the detention center was unpredictable, but the father of the inmate who was beaten said it should have been preventable.

Dillon Silvas, 22, was attacked by Peter Messick, 28. Messick was serving time in Virginia, convicted of sex related crimes with a teenager in Cumberland County. He was in town to make a court appearance.

Deputies say the two got together after automatic doors were opened and Messick went after Silvas in his cell.

"His jaw is like broken ... and so they are going to have to go in and put some titanium plates and screws in to repair it," said Silvas' father, Gary Silvas.

Sean Swain, a spokesperson for the sheriff's office, said jail employees did not know there was a history between the two outside of the detention center.

"Mr. Messick has blamed Silvas for the death of his girlfriend," Swain said.

Family members say they were assured Silvas would be safe in jail when he was arrested Wednesday night.

"I told all of them numerous of times, he's suicidal, he's needs to be by himself. He needs help," said Angel Spillers, Silvas aunt.

"If you have somebody that is in withdrawals or wanting to stop using narcotics and they're having mental health issues, being in jail is not the place to get that treatment," Swain said.

Nonetheless, Silvas' father believes the detention center should pay for his son's medical expenses.

"It happened there. They were supposed to be watching them. They're supposed to keep everything in order. Keep the people ... even the prisoners deserve safety," he said.

Messick is now charged with assault inflicting serious bodily injury.

The Cumberland County District Attorney's Office dropped the charges against Silvas.