Inmate pleads guilty

Roy Booth, a 42-year-old inmate, pleaded guilty to mayhem and armed assault with intent to murder for a brutal attack on Corrections Officer Matthew Tidman at MCI-Shirley in 2022. During recreation time, Booth unscrewed a metal pole from a weight-lifting machine and attacked Tidman from behind, leaving him with severe injuries that required life support. Booth was sentenced to 13 to 15 years in prison, to be served consecutively with a life sentence he is already serving for murder in Virginia. The attack has raised concerns about the safety of corrections officers, prompting calls for stricter safety regulations. Tidman survived the incident but is now permanently disabled. Following the attack, Booth was transferred back to a Virginia prison.