State v. Barnett

CAMERON, Justice.

On 1 February 1980, defendant Andrew Barnett, Jr., was convicted by a jury of violating A.R.S. § 13 — 1206, dangerous or deadly assault by a prisoner. On 12 February 1980, he was sentenced in accordance with the mandatory provision of A.R.S. § 13-1206 to life in prison without possibility of parole for twenty-five years. Barnett now appeals both conviction and sentence contending that A.R.S. § 13-1206 is unconstitutional. We have jurisdiction pursuant to A.R.S. § 13-4031.

In the early morning hours of 20 June 1979, an inmate of the Arizona State Prison in Florence, Gregory…