WHITESTOWN — A Utica man being held in the county jail for robbery and assault is now also accused of attacking a corrections officer, according to the Oneida County Sheriff's Office.

Sheriff's deputies said the corrections officer was attempting to serve dinner trays when he was attacked at 5:30 p.m. March 12 by Tahjer M. Hicks, 20, of Utica. Deputies said Hicks punched the officer in the face and threw him to the ground.

The officer requested backup and Hicks was detained. Authorities said the officer suffered a cut to his face, a chipped tooth and a fracture in his knee. He was treated at a local hospital.

Hicks is charged with one count of second-degree assault, a class D felony, authorities stated. He is scheduled to appear in Whitestown Court.

According to jail records, Hicks has been at the jail since Nov. 22 on charges of robbery and assault. Utica Police said Hicks was involved in a robbery in Utica on Nov. 12 that left a victim permanently paralyzed. That case remains ongoing in Oneida County Court.