MESA -- The warden of a state prison in Florence was among 14 Arizona Department of Corrections employees disciplined after the death of an inmate last year.
The DOC said John Ontiveros' last day was Jan. 16 and he has applied for his retirement benefits. He was warden of the Eyman Complex and had worked for the DOC since September 1986.
An internal investigation into the Sept. 7 slaying of William Harris concluded that prison guards and other officials made mistakes that led to the prisoner's death, according to a DOC report released Tuesday.
Harris, who was serving a three-year sentence for a drug charge, was found on the ground with a nine-inch metal shank sticking out of his chest after he was moved into a cell with Michael Gaston, who was serving a life sentence for killing a man over a car loan.
Harris had resisted moving into the cell because he feared for his life, according to the report.
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After moving him, a guard later noticed the two inmates shaking hands and believed they would get along, the report stated. But less than two hours later, Harris' bloody body was found with a blanket wrapped around his head.
Harris was flown to a Phoenix-area hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Gaston was eventually charged with first-degree murder and could face the death penalty if convicted.
The DOC said one employee was fired over the incident, one was demoted, four were suspended, three received written reprimands, one resigned and two retired while two other employees still are awaiting disciplinary measures.
