Charges filed against more inmates in Cushing prison riot

Wednesday, June 22nd 2005, 6:34 am

By: News On 6

CUSHING, Okla. (AP) A Payne County prosecutor says he plans to file first-degree murder charges against seven more inmates in a prison riot that left one inmate dead three months ago.

As many as 65 prisoners in two gangs fought March 22 in a recreational area of the privately operated Cimarron Correctional Facility. Adam Lippert, 32, was fatally stabbed during a riot in which inmates used aluminum bats, horseshoes and homemade weapons.

The new charges will raise to 14 the number of inmates charged in Lippert's death.

``I think we will have gotten the majority of those identified that were the most culpable,'' District Attorney Rob Hudson said Tuesday. The death penalty will be sought against several inmates.

Hudson said the seven inmates either planned, organized or were involved with the riot. He said the additional charges stemmed from work by Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation agents.

Inmates previously charged face preliminary hearings in mid-July, Hudson said.

Those charged were in prison for crimes ranging from murder to drug possession.

Normally, Payne County prosecutes about three homicide cases a year. The riot aftermath will keep the office busy, Hudson said.

Linda Hurst, Cimarron Correctional Facility spokeswoman, said the prison owned by Nashville, Tenn.-based Corrections Corporation of America came off lockdown May 23. The two-month lockdown was the longest in its history.

She said prison officials hope to allow inmates to play softball tournaments but will not allow regular horseshoes. Instead, a rubber horseshoe will be introduced.

Hurst said she's glad those responsible for the riot could soon be punished.

``Hindsight is always 20-20,'' she said. ``I have long experiences with corrections ... and I've never known them not to have the regular horseshoes, but yes, in hindsight we would wish to say we had rubber horseshoes.''