Tuesday, July 31, 2007 • Inmate killed at High Desert State Prison

Publisher’s note: This story originally appeared in the Tuesday, July 31, 2007 edition of the Lassen County Times.

An inmate a High Desert State Prison in Susanville allegedly was stabbed and killed by two other inmates while on the Facility C Exercise Yard last week.

Two unidentified inmates assaulted Christopher John Barton, 35, at 11:25 a.m. on Monday, July 23. He was stabbed with an inmate-manufactured weapon and subsequently died of his injuries.

According to a press release from HDSP, Barton was transported to the prison’s Correctional Treatment Center shortly after the assault. He was pronounced dead at 12:33 p.m.

Barton was received from Sacramento County on Feb. 24, 2004 and was serving a 12-year sentence for robbery.

There are two suspects in the case. The first suspect is a 23-year-old inmate who was received from San Luis Obispo County on Feb. 11 2002. He is serving a 15-year sentence for assault with a deadly weapon.

The second suspect is a 34-year-old inmate who was received from Ventura County and Oct. 31, 1989. He is serving a life sentence for assault with a deadly weapon.

Prison officials did not release the identities of the suspects.

The case is under investigation by the Lassen County District Attorney’s Office, the Lassen County Sheriff’s Office and the Investigative Services Office at HDSP. The Office of the Inspector General, Bureau of Independent Review was notified as well.

HDSP opened in 1995 and houses approximately 5,163 minimum-, medium- and maximum-custody inmates.