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Onstad:WayneK.Onstad, 72, of Red Bluff died Sun- day, Feb. 15at his home. Arrangements are under the direction of Hoyt-Cole Chapel of the Flowers. Published Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2015in the Daily News, Red Bluff, Calif. Deathnoticesmust be provided by mortu- aries to the news depart- ment, are published at no charge, and feature only specific basic in- formation about the de- ceased. Paid obituaries are placed through the Classified advertising department. Paid obitu- aries may be placed by mortuaries or by fami- lies of the deceased and include online publica- tion linked to the news- paper's website. Paid obituaries may be of any length, may run multi- ple days and offer wide latitude of content, in- cluding photos. Deathnotices Malesexoffendersmade up about 15 percent of the prison population but ac- counted for nearly 30 per- cent of homicide victims, the AP found in cataloging all 78 killings that correc- tions officials reported since 2007, when they started re- leasing slain inmates' iden- tities and crimes. The deaths — 23 out of 78 — come despite the state's creation more than a de- cade ago of special hous- ing units designed to pro- tect the most vulnerable inmates, including sex of- fenders, often marked men behind bars because of the nature of their crimes. In some cases, they have been killed among the gen- eral prison population and, in others, within the special units by violence-prone cell- mates. Officials acknowl- edge that those units, which also house inmates trying to quit gangs, have spawned their own gangs. Corrections officials blamed a rise in the prison homicide rate on an over- haul meant to reduce crowding. As part of the effort, the state in 2011 be- gan keeping lower-level offenders in county lock- ups, leaving prisons with a higher percentage of sex offenders and violent gang members. Violence and homicides won't decline unless the state goes well below the prison population level set by the courts — 137.5 per- cent of the system's de- signed capacity, said James Austin, president of the JFA Institute, a Washington, D.C., consulting firm that works on prison issues. "Until the state gets its prison population below 100 percent of capacity, you're going to have this," he said. Overall, 162 Califor- nia prisoners were killed from 2001 to 2012, or 8 per 100,000 prisoners — dou- ble the national average over the same time period and far higher than that of other large states, includ- ing Texas, New York and Il- linois, according to federal statistics. Officials in Oklahoma mainly blamed gang vio- lence for giving that state the nation's highest long- term prison homicide rate, 14 per 100,000, although a quarter of its inmate homi- cide victims in the last de- cade had convictions for sex crimes. In California, from 2012 to 2013, the most recent years for which data were available, the rate rose to 15 per 100,000, according to a report by a federal court re- ceiver, though corrections officials said the number of deaths dropped last year. Department spokes- woman Terry Thornton would not comment on the possible reasons for Califor- nia's long-term trend of in- mate homicides. The problem is most acute with sex offenders. Last fall, the corrections department's inspector general reported that so many homicides occurred in the "increasingly vio- lent" special housing units reserved for vulnerable in- mates that the department could no longer assume that inmates there could peace- fully co-exist. The report looked at 11 homicide cases that were closed in the first half of 2014 and found that 10 vic- tims were sensitive-needs inmates. Using corrections records, the AP found that eight of them were sex of- fenders. The inspector gen- eral recommended the re- instatement of a policy dropped 15 years ago that required potential sensi- tive-needs cellmates to fill out a compatibility form before they are housed to- gether and that inmates with a history of violence toward cellmates should be housed alone. Thornton said the report led to an ongoing review of the policy of housing most prisoners, including vul- nerable inmates, two to a cell. Experts said the state could better protect sex of- fender inmates by separat- ing them into their own facilities. Prison gangs, though made up of inmates often convicted of heinous crimes themselves, have long made it a practice to target sex offenders. "They're going to clean up anybody on that yard with 'hot charges,'" said former inmate Todd Sief- ert, referring to any crime against a woman or child, including a sex offense. The very lowest rung is reserved for child molesters. Seifert said he was con- fronted by white suprem- acist inmates less than a half-hour after he arrived at the California Institution for Men in Chino in 2004 and was severely beaten by a half-dozen fellow inmates for his sex crime involving a woman. Corrections department spokesmen in Illinois, New York and Texas said the targeting of sex offenders is not considered a prob- lem there. Some states have stricter protocols for keep- ing sex offenders away from other inmates. Those participating in Maine's rehabilita- tion therapy program are housed separately, and none has been injured or killed in the decade it has been in existence, said Dennis McNamara, execu- tive director of the Coun- seling and Psychotherapy Center Inc., which runs the program. However, only about 11 percent of the state's inmate sex offender population is in the treatment program, cor- rections spokesman Scott Fish said in an email. Of four Maine inmates killed behind bars since 2001, two were sex offenders. In Massachusetts, state policy calls for sex offenders to be placed in a "therapeu- tic community" that offers intensive treatment aimed at changing their behavior, preventing relapses and preparing them for even- tual release. The state had a high- profile inmate homicide in 2003, when John Geoghan, a former Roman Catholic priest whose sexual abuse conviction sparked a wide- spread abuse scandal in the Catholic Church, was killed by a fellow inmate who claimed he was cho- sen by God to kill pedo- philes. Adding to the problem in California, the depart- ment identified nearly 100 gangs that formed in sensi- tive-needs units, said Mat- thew Buechner, a special investigator who trained other corrections officials on problems with prison gangs until he retired last fall. In Ager's case, the 5-foot- 4, 135-pound inmate was kept in special housing when he first entered the prison system at San Quen- tin. But he was housed with general-population inmates soon after his transfer to Salinas Valley because offi- cials there decided he didn't need extra protection. Ager, 63, was housed with Clyde Leroy Beaver, a convicted murderer who has spent the last four de- cades in prison. Beaver pleaded guilty to murder in Ager's slaying and got another life sentence that Ager's son considers essen- tially meaningless. A federal judge ruled in March that Ager's family failed to show that prison officials acted with deliber- ate indifference. "The very day they let him into the yard, he was filing complaints, 'Get me the hell out of here,'" said Ager's son, Daniel. "'This is not safe. I'm going to get killed out here.'" Prison FROM PAGE 1 The state's Department of General Services bought most of the cars over the last 18 months, totaling $540,000. They are leased to the Senate, and officials contend that swapping out older cars with more eco- friendly models is routine. Gov. Jerry Brown has in- structed officials to in- crease clean-fuel cars and in 2012 required that at least 10 percent of the state's nonemergency vehi- cles be electric, the news- paper reported. Brian Ferguson of the state's Department of Gen- eral Services defended the purchases. He said the cars with low mileage are cycled back into the state's fleet for other agencies and remain in use. "The majority of the ve- hicles that were rotated out were older-model full- size sedans that were re- placed by newer hybrid ve- hicles as part of the con- tinuing effort to green the state's vehicle fleet," Fergu- son said. Critics said the state bought many of the new cars shortly before 40 Sen- ate staffers were laid off due to budget problems. Uhler, the taxpayer advocate, said lawmakers should drive less expensive cars, espe- cially when Democratic lawmakers complain there isn't enough money to pay for some social service pro- grams. Jon Coupal, president of the Howard Jarvis Taxpay- ers Association, said this comes as lawmakers con- sider asking Californians to pay more for road and free- way repairs. "This is the kind of thing that drives citizen taxpay- ers crazy," he said. Cars FROM PAGE 1 Springs, 36.51; 5. Quinton McWhorter, 37.31; 6. Bran- don Green, 38.50; 7. Rial Engelhart of Lakeview, Or- egon, 40.95; 8. Seth Nie- derhauser, 42.49; 9. Carson Williams, 47.82; 10. Corte Smith of Crescent Mills, 56.65. Steerwrestling 1. Jesse Clark, 13.45; 2. Brushton Minton, 16.09; 3. Kolby Bravos of Anderson, 28.92; 4. Cameron Jones of Cottonwood, 36.63; 5. Car- son Parker, 10.76/1; 6. Luke Pfister, 15.75/1; 7. Cole Mar- tin, 18.26/1; 8. Drew Mad- den, 27.09/1. Breakaway roping 1. Tea Greene, 6.15; 2. Gianna Cianfichi, 6.79; 3. Jessi Preyer, 7.66; 4. Bre- ann Justice, 8.41; 5. Faith Ann Cassol of Greenville, 8.70; 6. Emma Swift, 8.74; 7. Keeley Vaughan, 8.77; 8. Shasta Banchio of Taylors- ville, 8.79; 9. Nicole Toma- sello of Cottonwood, 21.05; 10. Fallon Myers of Central Point, Oregon, 21.05. Bull riding 1. Enrique Sanchez, 161; 2. Bodie Vaughan, 86/1. Saddle bronc 1. Cameron Messier, 131 Pole bending 1. Gianna Cianfichi, 41.830; 2. Ellie Baggett, 42.375; 3. Brittany Man- ner, 43.044; 4. Kayla Al- len, 43.393; 5. Carlie Bisby, 43.412; 6. Peyton Larsen, 43.673; 7. Emma Jones, 43.793; 8. Cherie Leonard of Bieber, 43.829; 9. Jackie Jones, 44.920; 10. Jessica Wilson, 45.146. Team roping 1. Wyatt Spencer of Corning and Cameron Jones of Cottonwood, 20.28; 2. Perry Green and Abigail Pfister, 21.20; 3. Colton Daniel and KC Mor- gan, 21.35; 4. Quentin An- seth and Carson Pettit, 23.82; 5. Kolton King of Red Bluff and Kristen Lov- erin of Cottonwood, 28.77; 6. Steel Humphry of McAr- thur and Rial Engelhart of Lakeview, Oregon, 30.90; 7. Carson Parker and Aus- tin Schoenhofer, 41.56; 8. Taylor Jacobson and Katie Morgan, 41.97; 9. Joel Gior- dano and Drew Madden, 59.64; 10. Kolby Bravos of Anderson and Clayton Ba- con of Esparto, 6.95/1. Goat tying 1. Gianna Cianfichi, 19.66; 2. Taylor Herman of Tulelake, 20.62; 3. Fal- lon Myers, 21.15; 4. Lucy Moore, 21.48; 5. Faith Ann Cassol, 21.94; 6. Shasta Ban- chio, 22.04; 7. Corley Raper, 22.06; 8. Emma Swift, 22.74; 9. Peyton Larsen, 22.80; 10. Keeley Vaughan, 22.94. Boys cutting 1. Colton Applegarth, 141; 2. Carson Parker, 140.5; 3. Tanner Meigs of Taylors- ville, 140; 4. Chance Col- lins, 137; 5. Jake Franche- schi, 136; 6-7. Jesse Clark, 135; 6-7. Brandon Green, 135; 8. Hadyn Evans, 129; 9. Chase Alvernaz of Williams, 73/1; 10. Brody Gill of Mill- ville, 70/1. Girls cutting 1. Jessica Alosi of Palo Cedro, 144.5; 2. Savanna Morgan, 143; 3. Abigail Morgan, 143; 4-5. Breann Justice, 140; 4-5. Joslyne Saco, 140; 6. Cara Hencratt of Red Bluff, 139.5; 7-10. El- lie Baggett, 139; 7-10. Molly Sparrowk, 139; 7-10. Bailey Bean, 139. Reined cow horse 1. Molly Sparrowk, 141; 2. Lucy Moore, 140; 3. Gra- cie Silva, 139; 4. Clayton Gordon, 138; 5-6. Maren Powers, 137.5; 5-6. Hadyn Evans, 137.5; 7. Jacey Gor- don, 134.5; 8. Kelsey Litz of Dorris, 132; 9. Haley Mae Dancer of Alturas, 131.5. Rodeo FROM PAGE 1 "The majority of the vehicles that were rotated out were older-model full-size sedans that were replaced by newer hybrid vehicles as part of the continuing effort to green the state's vehicle fleet." — Brian Ferguson, state Department of General Services The Associated Press STEPHENVILLE, TEXAS After several days of evi- dence focused on the men- tal health of the former Marine accused in the fa- tal shootings of "American Sniper" author Chris Kyle and his friend, the trial of Eddie Ray Routh resumed Monday in Texas. Criminal law experts say the case hinges on whether the defense can prove Routh, 27, was in- sane at the time and did not know the killings at a gun range constituted a crime. A Texas ranger who investigated the shootings and interviewed Routh tes- tified Monday that Routh knew his actions were wrong. Here is a look at key points in the case: Who was Kyle? Kyle served four tours in Iraq and made more than 300 kills as a sniper for SEAL Team 3, accord- ing to his own count. He earned two Silver Stars for valor. After leaving the military, he volunteered with veterans facing men- tal health problems, often taking them shooting. He took Routh to the shooting range at the request of the troubled veteran's mother. The case has drawn in- tense interest, partly be- cause of Kyle's memoir. An Oscar-nominated film based on the book has grossed more than $300 million in North America. Persepectives on Routh Family members say Routh suffered from post- traumatic stress disorder after serving in Iraq. De- fense attorneys say Routh, who was taking anti-psy- chotic medication, was in- sane when Kyle and his friend, Chad Littlefield, took the former Marine to the shooting range to pro- vide support and cama- raderie. Routh, his law- yers say, believed the men planned to kill him. Prosecutors say Routh was a troubled drug user who knew right from wrong, even with a history of mental illness. Some of Routh's psychi- atrists at Green Oaks Hos- pital, where he was admit- ted in September 2012 and in January 2013, are ex- pected to testify. The crime On Feb. 2, 2013, Kyle, Littlefield and Routh drove to Rough Creek Lodge and Resort, which has a 1,000- yard shooting range. About 5 p.m., a resort em- ployee discovered the bod- ies of Kyle and Littlefield on the ground amid scat- tered weapons; each had been shot several times. About 45 minutes later, au- thorities say Routh pulled up to his sister's Midlo- thian home in Kyle's truck and told her he had killed Kyle and Littlefield before driving away. On Thursday, prosecu- tors presented a video in which officers spoke with Routh as he sat in Kyle's pickup. He refused to leave the vehicle and eventually sped off, with police in pursuit. The video shows a police vehicle ramming the pickup, which became disabled along the side of the road. Trial highlights Ranger Danny Briley, who interviewed Routh in the hours after the kill- ings, was among those tes- tifying Monday. Briley said Routh confessed to shoot- ing the men. "He stated that he knew it was wrong to kill them, that he wished he hadn't done it," Briley said under questioning by the prose- cution. Last week, a former dep- uty testified that he over- heard Routh after he'd been taken into custody say he shot the men be- cause they wouldn't talk to him as the three drove together to the shooting range. Kyle's widow, Taya Kyle, testified about her hus- band's passion for helping veterans and gun safety. Sometimes choking up and wiping away tears, Kyle testified that her husband and Littlefield were close, and enjoyed spending time with veterans as they eased back into civilian life. Prosecutors filed doc- uments saying Routh smoked marijuana, drank excessively and had a his- tory of killing small an- imals. On the day of the killings, Routh had been drinking and smoking marijuana and threatened his girlfriend with a knife, one of the documents says. A Texas Ranger testi- fied that authorities found marijuana, a near-empty bottle of whiskey and med- ication for schizophrenia while searching Routh's small wood-framed home after the shooting. The testimony could show that Routh deliber- ately put himself into a vi- olent state, said Park Dietz, a forensic psychiatrist who examined Andrea Yates, who was found not guilty in 2006 by reason of insan- ity in the drowning deaths of her five children. "Voluntarily induced intoxication is not an ex- cuse for the mentally ill," he said. What's at stake Jurors have three op- tions: find Routh guilty of capital murder, find him not guilty or find him not guilty by reason of insan- ity. If convicted, Routh faces life in prison with- out parole. Prosecutors aren't seeking the death penalty. Even if he's acquit- ted, Routh could remain in custody. The Texas crimi- nal code stipulates that in cases involving violent crimes where defendants are found not guilty by rea- son of insanity, the court can initiate civil proceed- ings to have them commit- ted. TEXAS COURT CASE Ke y is su es a s 'American Sniper' tr ia l co nt in ue s By Darlene Superville The Associated Press RANCHOMIRAGE President Barack Obama squeezed in another round of golf be- fore ending a long weekend with childhood friends in Southern California. Obama's group returned to the Porcupine Creek golf course in Rancho Mirage, California, on Monday. It's also where they played on Sunday. The course is owned by Larry Ellison, the billion- aire co-founder of the Ora- cle software company. Obama's friends grew up with him in Hawaii. They are the president's regular golf companions when he is on the West Coast. Obama spent Presidents Day weekend in Southern California without his wife and daughters. He is due back at the White House on Monday night. SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA Obama prepares to wrap up golf weekend Combining Quality and Low Cost is what we do. www.affordablemortuary.net•529-3655 FD1538 LocatedinChico,CA TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2015 REDBLUFFDAILYNEWS.COM |NEWS | 7 A