Arizona State Prison Complex – Lewis
33°12′32″N 112°39′11″W / 33.209°N 112.653°W
| Location | Buckeye, Arizona |
|---|---|
| Status | open |
| Security class | mixed |
| Capacity | 4,397 |
| Opened | 1977 |
| Managed by | Arizona Department of Corrections |
| Warden | Jason Monson |
| City | Buckeye |
| County | Maricopa |
| State/province | Arizona |
| ZIP Code | 85326 |
| Country | United States |
| Website | https://corrections.az.gov/lewis |
Arizona State Prison Complex – Lewis, one of 13 prison facilities operated by the Arizona Department of Corrections (ADC) is in Buckeye, Maricopa County, Arizona, 43 miles west of the state capital of Phoenix.
Naming
Each of ASPC-Lewis's housing units is named after an ADC correctional officer killed in the line of duty:
- Sandra Bachman
- Theodore Buckley
- Robert Barchey
- Dale Morey
- Paul Rast
- Jim Stiner
ASPC-Lewis is a modern, medium-security prison built by both commercial and convict labor. It has an inmate capacity of over 5,000 in 7 units, at level 2, 3, 4, and a MAX custody security level. The ADC uses a score classification system to assess inmates' appropriate custody and security level placement. The scores range from 1 to 5, with 5 being the highest risk or need.
| ASPC Unit | Custody Level |
|---|---|
| Stiner | 3 |
| Barchey | 2 and 3 mixed |
| Morey Unit | 4 |
| Bachman | 2, 2/3 mixed and 5 |
| Buckley | 4 |
| Rast | 4 and 5 |
| Eagle Point / Sunrise | 2 |
Standoff
In early 2004, the Morey Unit of the Lewis complex was the site of the longest standoff between inmates and law enforcement officers in United States history. It was a 15-day ordeal, beginning January 18 and ending February 2.[1] Two officers were taken hostage, one male and one female, by two inmates, Ricky Wassenaar and Steven Coy. In addition, they sexually assaulted the female officer and a kitchen officer. The inmates were originally trying to escape, but their plan went awry, and the escape event turned into a hostage situation.[2] Wassenaar was later convicted of 19 charges relating to the siege and was given 16 life sentences.[3][4] In 2025, Wassenaar was accused of murdering three fellow inmates.[5]
Notable Inmates
- Chris Simcox - Member of the now defunct Minuteman Civil Defense Corps.[6][7]
See also
References
- ^ "Inmates free hostage, ending prison standoff". CNN. February 2, 2004. Retrieved January 9, 2007.
- ^ "Timeline of Hostage Situation at ASPC-Lewis Complex". www.adc.state.az.us. Archived from the original on February 14, 2004. Retrieved January 12, 2022.
- ^ Graziosi, Graig (April 5, 2025). "3 dead after 'altercation' in Arizona State Prison". The Independent.
- ^ "The Morey Unit Hostage Incident". National Institute of Corrections. Archived from the original on July 4, 2008. Retrieved August 3, 2009.
- ^ Valencia, Peter (April 4, 2025). "Officials identify 3 killed in fight at Tucson prison; high-profile inmate behind attack". KTVK. Associated Press. Retrieved April 7, 2025.
- ^ Schwartz, David (July 11, 2016). "Co-founding Minuteman gets 19 years in Arizona prison for sex abuse". Reuters.
- ^ Hauser, Christine (July 12, 2016). "Minuteman Co-Founder Sentenced to 19½ Years for Molesting 5-Year-Old". The New York Times.
External links
- Arizona Department of Corrections Archived April 11, 2008, at the Wayback Machine