Gouverneur inmate indicted in assault case tied to April death investigation

A St. Lawrence County grand jury indicted Savon O’Neal, 40, on one count of second-degree assault, a Class D felony, the St. Lawrence County District Attorney’s Office said. The indictment alleges that O’Neal intentionally caused physical injury to another person on or about April 10 in the town of Gouverneur while confined in a detention facility and after a prior conviction.

New York State Police said a physical altercation occurred between O’Neal and cellmate Shaun Bennett, 45, at Gouverneur Correctional Facility on April 10. Bennett later died after being found in his cell. State Police said an autopsy determined Bennett’s cause of death was cardiorespiratory arrest due to a closed head injury, and the manner of death was ruled a homicide. O’Neal was treated for non-life-threatening injuries, according to State Police.