az-tears
04-28-2004, 06:29 PM
State corrections officer charged in death of inmate
01:52 PM Mountain Standard Time on Wednesday, April 28, 2004
Associated Press Report
An Arizona Department of Corrections officer in Tucson faces charges of second-degree murder and conspiracy to commit aggravated assault.
Chief Criminal Deputy Pima County Attorney David Berkman says 43-year-old Ronald Cuestas was issued a summons Friday notifying him of the charges in the November sixth death of inmate Timothy Sweet.
A preliminary hearing for Cuestas will be held May 17.
The 40-year-old Sweet was found in his locked cell at the state prison in Tucson and pronounced dead at a hospital. He was serving a 17-year prison sentence for aggravated assault.
An autopsy showed that Sweet had several broken ribs, a skull fracture and lacerated spleen, and that he died of multiple blows.
Cuestas' lawyer, Michael Bloom, says he thinks the charges will be proven false.
Meanwhile, a lawyer representing Sweet's sister says the family is relieved somebody will be charged in the death.
(Copyright 2004 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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01:52 PM Mountain Standard Time on Wednesday, April 28, 2004
Associated Press Report
An Arizona Department of Corrections officer in Tucson faces charges of second-degree murder and conspiracy to commit aggravated assault.
Chief Criminal Deputy Pima County Attorney David Berkman says 43-year-old Ronald Cuestas was issued a summons Friday notifying him of the charges in the November sixth death of inmate Timothy Sweet.
A preliminary hearing for Cuestas will be held May 17.
The 40-year-old Sweet was found in his locked cell at the state prison in Tucson and pronounced dead at a hospital. He was serving a 17-year prison sentence for aggravated assault.
An autopsy showed that Sweet had several broken ribs, a skull fracture and lacerated spleen, and that he died of multiple blows.
Cuestas' lawyer, Michael Bloom, says he thinks the charges will be proven false.
Meanwhile, a lawyer representing Sweet's sister says the family is relieved somebody will be charged in the death.
(Copyright 2004 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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