Aaron Hernandez has been kept in solitary confinement since he was arrested and sent to Bristol County House of Corrections over the summer, but he was apparently not as lonely as he could have been. After allegedly beating up a fellow inmate who was wearing handcuffs earlier this week, the former New England Patriots tight end will get to experience true isolation.
On Wednesday, NECN was given an exclusive tour of the more restrictive cell Hernandez will be confined to for at least the next 30 days as a result of the altercation. Hernandez will now have to remain in the cell, which is similar to the one he has been in all along, for 23 hours a day.
It was previously reported that Hernandez was kept in solitary confinement because of his high-profile nature. He was allowed to come out of his cell a few times a day to eat meals by himself in the cafeteria and get some fresh air in an outdoor 12-foot by 8-foot enclosure. Now, he will have to eat his meals in his cell. When he leaves, he will have to be in handcuffs, a waist chain and leg irons at all times.
In other words, Hernandez is being punished. He was reportedly not in handcuffs at the time he attacked another inmate, and Bristol County Sheriff Thomas Hodgson said officials are investigating how he came into contact with another prisoner.
“We’re investigating it now to find out why two inmates would have been out at the same time in that unit,” he said. “I’m not happy that there may have been a breakdown in our system and our protocols.”
Hernandez and the other inmate had reportedly been taunting each other in the days leading up to the fight. For at least the next month, the 24-year-old will have no one to taunt or be taunted by.
