CHILLICOTHE, Ohio — An inmate at Lebanon Correctional Facility, Kaiden Cantrell, will be arraigned today in Ross County, for possessing deadly weapons within a detention center. Court documents detail that Cantrell was found with two makeshift weapons, or “shanks,” one nearly four inches long and the other approximately seven inches in length.
The charges come amid increasing scrutiny on the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections (ODRC), particularly following the recent death of corrections officer Andrew Lansing. This tragic event has catalyzed calls for heightened security measures within Ohio prisons.
In response to growing safety concerns, the ODRC has announced the initiation of a pilot program that will equip some corrections officers with Tasers. The program, costing almost $350,000 for 100 Taser 10 devices from Axion, will start at Trumbull Correctional Institution in the coming weeks and expand to Ross Correctional Institution in May.
Cantrell, who was already serving time for aggravated burglary, felonious assault, and other charges since October 20, 2023, faces a potential additional 16 years to his sentence if convicted of the new charges. The case highlights ongoing challenges within the state’s correctional facilities and the measures being taken to address them.