Federal grand jury indicts two prisoners in assault on Atwater correctional officers

A federal grand jury has indicted two men in an assault on two correctional officers at the Atwater prison, according to authorities.

Daniel Higgins, 38, of Morro Bay and Austin Noblitt, 33, of Portland, Ore., were both indicted Thursday, each charged with two counts of assault on a federal officer, according to a news release from the office of U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert.

Higgins and Noblitt are accused of assaulting two correctional officers at the U.S. Penitentiary in Atwater on Nov. 21, 2022, according to court documents. Authorities said the two men repeatedly punched the officers in their heads and torsos causing injuries to both officers.

If convicted, both Higgins and Noblitt could face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison as well as a fine of $250,000 on each count, according to the release.