Lake County Jail Inmate charged with Possession of a Deadly Weapon For Second Time
Back in July of 2024, the Lake County Sheriff’s Department was contacted to investigate an incident involving an inmate possessing a deadly weapon inside the Lake County Jail, Housing Unit 3F, House 2. House 2 is a general population housing unit, where inmates have a personal bed, but share the living space with other inmates.
According to court documents, Lake County Jail staff received a note from an inmate that indicated that another inmate, David T. Washington, had a weapon. The note stated “David Washington in house 2 has a broken broom stick that he’s using as a homemade weapon threaten to kill people and taking commissary. It’s under his mat.”
According to court documents, the jail staff conducted a shakedown of the housing unit. The jail staff found a shank hidden within Inmate Washington’s mattress and another shank hidden under the mattress. Both shanks were made from a broken broom handle. Inmate Washington informed the Jail Staff that he was using the broom remains to clean. However, cleaning supplies (including a broom) are provided to all sections throughout the Lake County Jail every morning, so there shouldn’t be a reason for any inmate to hide a broom for cleaning purposes.
On July 16, 2024, David T. Washington was charged with:
Prisoner Possessing a Deadly Weapon: F4 Felony (2 Counts)
Prisoner Possessing Dangerous Device: F5 Felony
RNS has learned that, on March 18, 2025, Washington pleaded guilty in this case, and he is scheduled to be sentenced on April 15, 2025, in Lake Superior Court Criminal Division 2.
Additionally, RNS has learned that David T. Washington has another case pending from October of 2017, wherein Washington was charged with Burglary as a level 3 Felony, Robbery Resulting in Bodily Injury as a level 3 Felony, Burglary as a level 4 Felony, and Carrying a Handgun Without a License as a level 5 Felony. Court records show that Washington has pleaded guilty in this case as well. Sentencing is also scheduled on April 15, 2025, in Lake Superior Court Criminal Division 2.
Earlier this week, on April 8, 2025, the Lake County Jail staff were conducting a shake down of section WC in the LCJ where inmate David T. Washington is currently housed.
According to court documents, during the shake down, the staff searched Washington’s property bag. The staff felt a foreign object inside of a shaving cream tube. The staff members cut open the shaving cream tube and found a metal shank inside of it.
According to court documents, the “metal shank” was described as a metal object, approximately 4-5 inches long, with a sharpened point capable of puncturing flesh if used offensively.
On April 10, 2025, David T. Washington was charged with:
Prisoner Possessing a Deadly Weapon: F4 Felony
Prisoner Possessing Dangerous Device: F5 Felony
An arrest and criminal charges are accusations only. All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
