A man accused of fracturing the spine of a fellow prisoner at Limestone County Jail is facing a felony assault charge, court records show.

Zachary Wayne Weatherford, 26, of 17812 Elles Drive, Athens, was charged Wednesday with second-degree aggravated assault in connection with the incident that occurred Nov. 14, according to Limestone County District Court records.

Weatherford remained in the Limestone County Jail Thursday with bail set at $5,000.

According to an incident report filed by a supervising jailer, Lt. Roy Brooks, prisoner Scottie Allen Barnes told a jailer that Weatherford was harassing him about taking a shower while he was housed in cell block D-5.

Barnes told the jailer that Weatherford began calling him profane names and threatening to rape him when he returned to the cell. Barnes said he got up to leave cell 505 when Weatherford stopped in front of the cell. A fight broke out between the two men during which Barnes blacked out. According to surveillance video at the jail, Weatherford is seen stomping Barnes while he lay on the floor, appearing not to move, according to the incident report.

Barnes was taken to the Athens-Limestone Hospital emergency room, where it was determined he suffered a cervical spine fracture and a back fracture, court records show.

After treatment, Barnes was returned to jail and advised to follow up with the jail nursing staff.

Deputy Stephen Young, public information officer for the Sheriff’s Office, “Barnes is no longer (and won’t be) housed in the same cell as Weatherford. Currently, he is in a cell in the booking area.”