"Jerry Springer" Fan Faces Jail Assault Charge

AUGUST 14--A devoted Jerry Springer fan is facing a felony charge for allegedly assaulting a fellow inmate during a dispute over the TV in a Florida jail, according to court records.

Donnie Floyd, 57, and other prisoners at the Clearwater jail were watching a movie one afternoon last month when Antron Laquay Smith, 32, “insisted on watching the Jerry Springer Show at 1600 hours as he does every day.”

Smith, seen at right, is a convicted felon with a monstrously long rap sheet that includes arrests for child abuse, domestic battery, grand theft, burglary, robbery, cocaine trafficking, kidnapping, aggravated assault, and aggravated battery on a pregnant victim. He is awaiting trial on various felonies related to his alleged activities as a pimp.

After Smith demanded to watch “Springer,” Floyd “spoke up,” an investigator reported. Smith then allegedly attacked his fellow inmate and took Floyd’s “commissary and flushed it down the toilet.”

Smith was charged this week with felony assault in connection with the July 28 attack on Floyd, who is awaiting trial on sex abuse charges.

As a result of the confrontation, Smith missed a “Springer” episode that featured a woman confessing to her boyfriend that she slept with his roommate Mike. In another segment, a man got down on bended knee to propose to his girlfriend, who ruined the moment by admitting that she slept with his friend Tobias.

As with most “Springer” shows, the latter revelation forced vigilant security personnel to hold back two would-be pugilists (seen above), both of whom tore their shirts off in preparation for combat. (1 page)