A former inmate at the most secure federal prison in America received 3½ years in the slammer today for his role in the murder of another inmate.
The 2005 killing of Gregory Joiner is one of only two slayings ever to take place at the Florence prison known as Supermax. Dominic Stewart was convicted of second-degree murder in the beating death earlier this year.
Today, U.S. District Court Judge Robert Blackburn sentenced James Duckett to 42 months in prison Duckett’s role in the killing. Duckett pleaded guilty to assault just before his trial was to commence. According to his plea agreement, Duckett held Joiner back while Stewart attacked him. Duckett then let go of Joiner, and Stewart continued the attack.
“When he grabbed and held a smaller Mr. Joiner for Mr. Stewart,” Blackburn said today in reference to Duckett, “that marked the beginning of the end for Mr. Joiner.”
Duckett, 48, declined to make a statement on his behalf at his sentencing hearing.
Duckett testified against Stewart at Stewart’s trial, resulting in a lower-than-usual sentence for Duckett.
Supermax is home to the most dangerous inmates in the federal prison system. Most inmates are kept in solitary confinement, but Duckett, Stewart and Joiner were in a special unit where inmates can mingle and prove they are well-behaved enough to be transferred to a less-secure prison.
The first homicide in the prison’s history happened in April 2005, one more before Joiner’s killing. Prosecutors have charged two inmates in that death.
John Ingold: 303-954-1068 or jingold@denverpost.com
