WOODBOURNE – A prisoner serving an 11 year sentence at the Woodbourne Correctional Facility for first-degree robbery in New York City has been charged with assaulting a corrections officer at the medium security prison.

Romero Nesto, 27, has been in prison since July 2, 2008 and is eligible for parole in December 2015.

A spokeswoman for the State Department of Correctional Services said when the officer was preparing to escort Nesto out of a dormitory area at noon on Monday, he noticed a bulge in a one of his socks during a pat frisk. At that point, Nesto turned and struck the officer on the right side of the head causing redness to his ear.

A second officer responded and Nesto was placed on a bed. Two other CO’s and a sergeant responded and the officers found 24 pills on him, 12 in each sock.

Nesto was sent to the special housing unit and a misbehavior report was drafted charging him with possessing unauthorized medication, smuggling, assault on staff, violent contact, creating a disturbance, refusing a direct order, and non-compliance with a search frisk, the spokeswoman said.