BRENTWOOD – A spat over who got a second helping of lunch at the county jail has resulted in yet another conviction for the one-time partner of cop killer Michael Addison.

A jury only needed three witnesses and 10 minutes of deliberation this afternoon before finding Antoine Bell-Rogers, 24, guilty of punching a 50-year-old inmate in the head at the county jail on Dec. 4, 2007.

The sentence could end up tacking on another 3 1/2 to 7 years on a state prison sentence that, at minimum, will last about 30 years, according to prison records.

Bell-Rogers was locked up in the county jail months after his 2006 arrest that capped a 23-day crime spree in the Manchester area with Addison.

Addison fatally shot Manchester police Officer Michael Briggs, 35, leading to his and Bell-Rogers' arrest. Both men are now in state prison. Addison was sentenced to death for Briggs' murder.

While Bell-Rogers was at the county jail, he mistakenly thought he could push around Tracy Bagley, 50, of Seabrook to show off he ranked high in the pecking order among inmates, Assistant County Attorney Jerome Blanchard said in court today.

"The defendant incorrectly thought Tracy Bagley was getting seconds," Blanchard said. "(Bell-Rogers) said, 'You need to get in the back of line. I'm going to (expletive) you up old man.'" He then hit Bagley in the face, giving him a black eye.

Bagley, in fact, had not yet eaten and arrived late for lunch so he was told he could be served before other inmates who were waiting for seconds, Blanchard said.

"As I was walking by he sucker-punched me while I was holding my tray," Bagley said. "After that we were both wrestling on the ground."

Defense lawyer Neal Reardon suggested Bagley used a racial slur when he exchanged words with Bell-Rogers, prompting him to strike. Reardon said jurors should give weight to the predatory nature that emerges among inmates in jail and prison culture.

"Being in jail is a whole different world," Reardon said. "It's not like being on the street in Portsmouth."

Blanchard said there was no evidence Bagley uttered a racial slur.

"He's just trying to throw the race card in front of you," he said.

Bell-Rogers is facing one other trial in Rockingham County for allegedly keeping a makeshift knife in his jail cell. That charge is a felony offense as well.

Earlier today, Bell-Rogers argued with Rockingham County Superior Court Judge Kenneth McHugh for more time to prepare for the case.

“There’s no way around this? There’s no way I can fight it?” he asked Judge McHugh, after a 10-minute argument on why the case should be delayed for the third time.

“No,” the judge said.

Bell-Rogers told McHugh this morning he wanted another month to prepare for trial because he felt his court-appointed lawyer did not have enough evidence to fight his case.

“I feel like we’re not ready, it’s not enough,” Bell-Rogers said. “I need more time to go through this case.”

McHugh said there was no valid reason for another delay.

“What you need to understand is there’s another indictment in this case. I’ve got to move this one. It’s a very simple case. There’s no missing witnesses, (and) no reason why you can’t go forward," McHugh said.

The judge gave Bell-Rogers the option to have the trial go on in his absence or to represent himself if he wasn’t happy with his lawyer, Neil Reardon.

Reardon told the judge he was prepared to go to trial.

The assault on a prisoner charge is a class B felony, punishable by 3 ½ to 7 years in state prison. He faces a similar sentence for allegedly having a shank in his jail cell.

Bell-Rogers' earliest parole date is April 2037. Opening arguments are scheduled for 1 p.m.