A Carroll man accused of crafting weapons in the Carroll County jail while awaiting sentencing for a February burglary conviction has pled not guilty to the charges levied against him. According to Carroll County District Court records, 30-year-old Brice Edward Shrimpton faces two counts of possession of a weapon in a correctional institution, a class C felony. Affidavits from the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office allege an eight-inch piece of plexiglass fashioned into a knife was located under Shrimpton’s mattress on Feb. 23 and a toothbrush that had been sharpened into a shiv was found in his cell on March 14. He filed his written not guilty pleas earlier this week, and a judge signed an order Monday setting his jury trial for Tuesday, May 25. A pretrial conference is slated for the week prior on May 17. A class C felony in Iowa carries a maximum penalty of up to 10 years in prison and $10,000 in fines. Shrimpton was sentenced to up to 10 years in the custody of the Iowa Department of Correctional Services following a conviction for second-degree burglary. Authorities say he kicked his way into a home in the 800 block of N. Court Street on Dec. 15 and threatened the occupants, causing them to fear for their safety.
