CALIFORNIA – An inmate was sentenced Friday to life in prison for murdering a 22-year-old U.S. corrections officer who was attacked and repeatedly stabbed with an eight-inch homemade shank in 2008, federal officials said.
James Ninete Leon Guerrero, 48, of Guam, had plead guilt to one count of murder by a federal prisoner serving a life sentence, authorities said.
Prosecutors stated in court documents that Guerrero aided and abetted co-defendant Jose Cabrera Sablan in the stabbing Jose Rivera at the U.S. prison in Atwater, California.
Officer Rivera tried to flee, but he was knocked backwards by Sablan and tackled by Guerrero. Guerrero held Officer Rivera down as Sablan stabbed him with the shank more than 20 times, officials said.
Officials said Rivera was a U.S. Navy veteran.
Sablan and Guerrero were indicted for murder on Aug. 14, 2008, say authorities. Sablan’s case is set for trial on April 6, 2015, and the government will be seeking the death penalty if he is convicted, officials said.