PRISON escape ringleader sentenced to death for killing police officer

<br>DALLAS (AP) _ The ringleader of the biggest prison escape in Texas history was sentenced to death Wednesday for killing a police officer while on the run. George Rivas had pleaded with jurors to give

Wednesday, August 29th 2001, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

DALLAS (AP) _ The ringleader of the biggest prison escape in Texas history was sentenced to death Wednesday for killing a police officer while on the run. George Rivas had pleaded with jurors to give him the death penalty so wouldn't have to live ``like an animal in prison.''

Rivas, 31, was the first of the seven escapees to be tried in the Dec. 24 shooting death of Irving police Officer Aubrey Hawkins.

Defense attorneys have been trying to get Rivas a life sentence, saying he never intended to murder Hawkins. But as the penalty phase wrapped up Wednesday, Rivas in a surprise twist asked jurors to give him a death sentence.

``What you call the death penalty, I call freedom,'' he said. ``I can finally be free. I'm telling you right now I don't want another life sentence.''

Speaking haltingly and emotionally, Rivas said: ``I don't want to just exist anymore like an animal in prison.''

A day earlier, Rivas testified that he never intended to kill Hawkins and took pains to limit bloodshed in the prison escape. His death wish was cited by both sides during closing arguments.

``Ladies and gentlemen, grant him his wish and justice will be done in this courtroom today,'' prosecutor Bill Hill said.

Defense lawyer Wayne Huff said a life sentence would be worse than death for Rivas, who would be locked 23 hours a day in an isolation cell.

The Dec. 13 breakout at the Connally Unit in Kenedy, near San Antonio, sparked a nationwide manhunt. The convicts overpowered civilian workers and a guard in the maintenance shop where they worked, then fled in a stolen pickup truck with 16 guns and ammunition.

The gang allegedly committed three armed robberies, including the fatal one at an Irving sporting goods store that netted them $70,000 in cash and checks, 44 weapons and stolen winter clothing.

The men lived for about a month in a recreational vehicle park in Woodland Park, Colo., before a neighbor recognized them from broadcasts of Fox TV's ``America's Most Wanted'' and went to authorities.

On Jan. 22, a SWAT team nabbed Rivas, and escapees Joseph Garcia and Michael Rodriguez at a convenience store. Another inmate, Randy Halprin, gave up at the mobile home; Larry Harper killed himself.

Patrick Murphy and Donald Newbury, who had gone out on their own a day earlier, surrendered two days later at a motel in nearby Colorado Springs.

Dallas County prosecutors have vowed to seek the death penalty against the other convicts and accept no plea agreements.

Before the escape, Rivas was serving 17 life sentences for armed robbery and kidnapping stemming from two 1993 robberies in El Paso. He also had a life sentence for a 1989 burglary.

In arguing for the death penalty, prosecutors tried to demonstrate that Rivas was a lifelong felon who showed no mercy when he repeatedly shot Hawkins and ran over him with a vehicle. Rivas himself confessed to the crime.

Evidently deciding they had nothing to lose, Rivas' attorneys let him take the stand. He spoke gravely when he took full responsibility for Hawkins' murder. He also said he planned the getaway because ``I wasn't going to die an old man in prison.''

Jurors found Rivas guilty of capital murder Aug. 21. They had two punishment choices: lethal injection or life imprisonment with the possibility of parole in 40 years.

Rivas' lawyers argued he never intended to kill Hawkins, only disarm him after the officer interrupted the armed robbery.

In a written statement, Rivas said he shot Hawkins because he thought the officer was reaching for his service revolver. When others joined in the shooting, Rivas himself was shot twice by his own men.