Austin Drummond sentenced to 9 years over prison fight charges

LAKE COUNTY, Tenn. (WMC) - Quadruple murder suspect Austin Drummond has been sentenced to nine years Monday afternoon on charges related to a 2023 prison fight.

On July 24, Drummond was found guilty of attempted voluntary manslaughter and possession of a weapon in a penal facility, stemming from a prison fight at Northwest Correctional Complex in 2023.

“Overall, I am very pleased with the result of today’s sentencing hearing,” Drummond’s attorney Drew Farmer said. Although we respectfully disagree with the jury’s finding of guilt in this case for purposes of today, at today’s hearing we have to accept the jury finding of guilt to the lesser included offense of attempted voluntary manslaughter."

During court, the judge sentenced Drummond to nine years each for attempted voluntary manslaughter and contraband in a penal facility. The two sentences are to be served concurrently.

Two $1,000 fines were imposed for both counts; however, they were suspended.

“If you assume that the jury verdict is correct, then the sentence that the judge imposed today was reasonable. We are grateful under the circumstances,” said Farmer.

Drummond claimed he acted in self-defense, stating that the victim threatened to stab him.

The victim testified that he was stabbed 17 times. Prosecutors say that demonstrates a clear intent to inflict harm.

While under oath during the sentencing hearing, Drummond urged the judge to consider a few factors before sentencing him. He asked the judge to consider how dangerous and corrupt he says the prison system is. Drummond added that he does not deny his previous actions, but believes those actions stem from him trying to protect himself in such a dangerous environment. He also mentioned he knows how dangerous the system is because he has been incarcerated since he was 16.

The Lake County judge mentioned the violence inside Northwest Correctional Facility. He described the violence as “rampant.”

During sentencing, the prosecution argued that Drummond is a level 3 persistent offender and they asked for a 14-year sentence in the case.

Drummond’s attorney, Drew Farmer, argued that Drummond should be sentenced as the law instructs and not harsher. He said his sentence should not be determined based on the quadruple murder case Drummond is also charged in. The defense asked for an 8-year sentence.

The judge said Drummond is a level 2 persistent offender, not a level 3, and ultimately sentenced him to nine years.

During his speech before the sentence came down, Drummond asked for more time on the phone to talk with family, more clothes, and more options to use technology through commissary.

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