An official of the firm that operates the workhouse testified Monday about a fight at the Silverdale facility that she said pitted members of one local gang against another.

Michelle Johnson, of the Corrections Corporation of America (CCA), was a witness at a sentencing hearing for Ladarius Springs.

She said the day after Christmas, there was an altercation involving 7-8 inmates in a sector that houses 64 prisoners.

Ms. Johnson said it started as "an argument between two inmates who are members of rival gangs."

Of the ensuing brawl, she said, "Pretty much everyone involved was a member of one gang or the other."

She said Springs was seen in a video swinging a sock wrapped around a lock at several other inmates. She said the sock with the lock inside was afterward found in Springs' cell.

Ms. Johnson said letters were found in Springs' cell involving STG (Security Threat Group) gangs.

She said the letters related specifically to the Traveling Vice Lords.

She said there were other incidents involving Springs at the workhouse so he was sent back to the County Jail.

A jail deputy said on Jan. 10 that Springs was throwing urine into an adjacent cell. He said a search of his property box turned up a plastic shank.

Springs denied being involved in a fight at the workhouse or of having any knowledge of the plastic shank.

Judge Barry Steelman ordered that a six-year prison sentence against Springs go into execution.

He noted that Springs has already been in custody about two years. He said, "He just poses too much of a danger to the citizens of Chattanooga to be allowed on the streets."

The judge added, "The laws being what they are, he may be back out on the streets before I do this evening."

Judge Steelman noted that Springs had pleaded guilty to involvement in a violent home invasion when he was 18. He had been ordered to serve 11 months and 29 days of a six-year sentence. But he was arrested for assault eight days after being released.

The judge said the assault occurred in a local housing project at 3:05 a.m.

Springs, who is now 20, is the younger brother of Eric Lebron Springs, who was convicted in Federal Court in December of involvement in a string of "shock and awe" robberies.

He is awaiting sentencing.

Ladarius Springs said the letters about the Vice Lords gang came from his brother.

Attorney Ben McGowan said the mother of the Springs brothers is a cocaine addict who gave up the children when Ladarius was eight.