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A South Scranton man who shot and wounded another man last year avoided a state prison sentence Thursday after his attorney argued in Lackawanna County Court that his actions probably saved a woman’s life.

(Curt) Parkins objected to the characterization of Linton as a victim, telling the judge Thompson likely saved the woman’s life by shooting Linton.

“He (Linton) was not a victim. He held a gun to a woman’s head. … To call him a victim is somewhat offensive,” the attorney said.

“I think it’s about time LCP, its employees and administration have to answer in a court of law,” Mr. Comerford … “They can no longer be trusted to do the right thing on their word. This same scenario has played out too long.”

“The prison was aware of the Shnipes allegation as early as 2010. He continued to work there and sexually violated my client,” Mr. Comerford said. “Someone once said, ‘Evil triumphs when good men stand by and do nothing.’ That’s exactly why female inmates have been victimized for such an extensive period of time.”

Lackawanna County agreed to a $1.1 million settlement of two federal lawsuits filed by three women who alleged several former Lackawanna County Prison guards sexually abused them.

The agreement, reached this week, is the fifth lawsuit related to prison sexual abuse the county settled in the last three years. All told the victims were paid $2.4 million, nearly all of which was covered by insurance.

The latest settlement resolves a federal lawsuit Scranton attorney Matthew Comerford filed in 2016 on behalf of two women, and one he filed in 2018 on behalf of another woman.

A South Scranton man who shot and wounded another man last year avoided a state prison sentence Thursday after his attorney argued in Lackawanna County Court that his actions probably saved a woman’s life.

(Curt) Parkins objected to the characterization of Linton as a victim, telling the judge Thompson likely saved the woman’s life by shooting Linton.

“He (Linton) was not a victim. He held a gun to a woman’s head. … To call him a victim is somewhat offensive,” the attorney said.