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| Ariz. inmate convicted in hostage standoff |
| By Associated Press |
| Published: 05/05/2005 |
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An inmate who took two officers hostage in a watchtower last year in one of the nation's longest prison hostage standoffs was convicted Wednesday on 19 charges, including sexual assault. Ricky Wassenaar, 42, was convicted of kidnapping, aggravated assault and sexual assault against a female officer who was held hostage for 15 days. He was acquitted on one count, attempted second-degree murder. Following the reading of the verdicts in Maricopa County Superior Court, Wassenaar repeatedly said, "Worst verdicts I ever heard." During the trial, Wassenaar had particularly disputed the claims of sexual assault against guard Lois Fraley. Fraley had her head down during much of the count-by-count verdict announcement, but she grinned when the jury foreman read the sexual assault verdict. "He is out of my mind. He is not holding me hostage anymore," Fraley said afterward. She said she plans to go back to being an officer. "It is a beautiful day. Justice has been served," she said. Wassenaar is scheduled to be sentenced June 3. He faces up to 16 life sentences. The hostage standoff began Jan. 18, 2004, in a prison west of Phoenix when Wassenaar and inmate Steven Coy overpowered officers and staff in a kitchen with makeshift knives. Using an officer's uniform, Wassenaar then tricked officer Jason Auch into letting him into the armed watchtower. Coy was let in later. Auch was released after a week, but Fraley was held for 15 days. The standoff ended after negotiators cut off electricity to the tower and agreed to transfer Coy and Wassenaar to facilities outside Arizona. |
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