Suspect pleads guilty to all charges following detention center officer assault

GUILFORD COUNTY, N.C. — The 21-year-old man who brutally assaulted a Guilford County Detention Center officer last summer plead guilty to all charges and could face at least 10 years in prison.

"The judge, her honor, she gave him everyday she possibly could under the law," said Christopher Parrish, assistant district attorney for Guilford County.

Back on July 15 of 2021, Guilford County deputies say Elijah Evans assaulted officer Sheldon Kaminsky inside the detention center.

"He hit him once, Sheldon went down and was unconscious, Elijah Evans walked back over to him, bent over him and hit him four more times," said Candy Kaminsky, Officer Sheldon's wife.

It all started when Evans wanted his cell door open and Officer Kaminsky didn't do it for him at that moment.

"Sheldon sat up and said you know, I'm not afraid of you, so he felt disrespected, that's why he did it," Candy said.

Candy gave a statement in court on Monday, saying her family's life has changed.

"Unfortunately, the max to me isn't long enough," she said.

"It was extremely power and she was very brave and strong to come in there and speak so eloquently and be there for her husband," Parrish said.

A video of the assault is expected to be released for the public next week and that's why the DA says he stood by no plea deal.

"We had surveillance video of what happened and we had obviously witnesses that saw what they say they saw," Parrish said.

"The video was quite clear, quite brutal, there was no provocation for his attack, he held his ground, he did not deal," Candy said.

Candy sent ABC 45 photos of Officer Sheldon when he was in the hospital. You can see cheekbones crushed, severe traumatic brain injuries, and now, the officer is also living with double vision and even depression.

"The thing that caught me the most was when the DA said in the interview, Elijah Evans said he was not remorseful for what he had done," Candy said.

"He's going to live with this the rest of his life, but that's something the people have to take to the legislature and change the law," Parrish said.

In the future, Candy hopes to see more protection for officers in jails.