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TFSnewsRoom/Reuters.com
Posted Jun 23, 2009 9:45 PM
Spector in 'sensitive needs' area of Calif. prison
Reuters By LINDA DEUTSCH,
AP Special Correspondent Linda Deutsch,
LOS ANGELES – Music legend Phil Spector has been assigned to a "sensitive needs facility" in California's largest state prison to serve his sentence for murdering an actress.
Spector was taken Monday to the California Substance Abuse Treatment Facility and State Prison at Corcoran, where 6,919 other inmates are housed, corrections spokeswoman Terry Thornton said.
She said Spector was assigned to the sensitive needs facility rather than general population. He's a medium security prisoner and doesn't have a cellmate.
Prison Lt. Stephen Smith said Spector's notoriety probably got him into that housing area. He said the typical inmate there needs protection after dropping out of a gang.
The 69-year-old Spector is serving 19 years to life for the fatal shooting of actress Lana Clarkson at his castle-like home in Alhambra in 2003. He was convicted of second-degree murder in April after the first trial ended with a mistrial.
Rachelle Spector told The Associated Press in a telephone call Tuesday she was relieved her husband was out of North Kern State Prison, where he has been undergoing evaluation.
She claimed Spector was mistreated there, forced to sleep naked on the floor for two nights and to eat out of a bowl with his hands "like a dog."
Thornton said the prison does not mistreat inmates and the actions described by Rachelle Spector "would be a violation of policies and laws." She said, however, any report of misconduct would be investigated.
(This version CORRECTS that Corcoran state prison is a different facility from the one where Spector is being held.)
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