Skatzes, George --
-- sentenced to death after Lucasville prison riot
One of the leaders of the 11-day Lucasville prison riot in 1993, Skatzes was sentenced to die for his role in the murder of two inmates during the riot.
The Lucasville riot:
The riot started April 11, 1993 at the Southern Ohio CorrectionalFacility and inmates controlled the prison for 11 days. Prison Guard Robert Vallandingham was killed April 15 after negotiationsregarding restoring electricity to the cell block disintegrated.Skatzes trial:
During a two-month trial before retired visiting Judge Thomas W. Mitchellof Jackson County, prosecutors demonstrated that Skatzes acted as a leaderamong the rioters and negotiated for them. He was a captain of the AryanBrotherhood, one of three gangs that led the riot.Jurors heard tapes of negotiations showing Skatzes repeatedly told officialsthat failure to meet inmate demands would endanger the lives of hostageguards. The tapes also showed him agreeing with other inmates to kill aguard if their demands were not met.
On Dec. 16, 1995 Skatzes was convicted of aggravated murder and kidnappingfor the deaths of guard Robert Vallandingham and inmates David Sommers andEarl Elders. Skatzes was also found guilty of kidnapping Darrold Clark,a 23-year-old prison guard who Skatezes released to authorities in exchangefor allowing him to make a radio broadcast.
Skatzes attorneys during his trial were Robert Dixon andJeff Kelleher, both Cleveland attorneys who were appointed to represent him.
On 1-12-96 the jury recommended the death sentence for Skatzes role in the killings of the two guards, and life without parole for 30 years for his less direct role in Vallandingham's death.
On 1-30-96 Skatzes was sentenced to die for the two inmate killings. Judge Mitchell accepted the jury's recommendation and imposed two death sentences and three consecutive 15-to-25-year sentences.
Other inmates charged in the riot:
Two other inmates, Jason Robb and James Were,have been convicted and sentenced to death in vallandingham's murder. Another,Carlos Sanders, is awaiting trial.
File created: 1-13-96
Updated: 2-6-96
Source: DDN 12/17/95
