2000-03-17

Ex-Clements unit inmate draws 40-year prison term

A former William P. Clements Jr. Unit inmate pleaded guilty to manslaughter Thursday and was
sentenced to a 40-year prison term, ending his two-day Potter County murder trial.

Leonard Ray Williams, a 25-year-old prison inmate serving time on a 1993 aggravated robbery conviction, was charged with murder in the death of Bret Austin Cook. 33. another prison inmate

Williams was accused of stomping Cook's head during a Sept. 13 1995 attack at the prison. Cook, a Dallas County native, was serving five years for aggravated sexual assault.

Williams pleaded guilty to a charge of manslaughter-enhanced with a finding that he used a deadly weapon--his feet--in the slaying.

Judge Sam Kiser of 181st District Court asked Williams mentally competent and Williams responded that he
was.

Bill Juvrad, a prison system prosecutor, said Williams' 40-year sentence will be stacked on an earlier 17-year prison term for aggravated robbery. Williams has 10 years served on his robbery sentence.

The plea agreement came after co-defendant testified about the slaying, Juvrud said.

During opening arguments Tuesday, Juvrud told jurors Cook was attacked the first day he transferred to the Clements unit from another prison facility

Other inmates approached Cook and attempted to extort money, but Cook chose to fight instead. Juvrud said.

Cook was attacked by inmates, including Williams, who attacked Cook from behind prosecutor said. After the attack, the other inmates left, but Williams continued to attack Cook, left the scene, returned and stomped Cook's head with steel toed boots, he said.

Guards later found Cook lying in a pool of blood, and he was hospitalized at Northwest Texas Hospital, suffering from severe brain damage

Cook, who lapsed into a coma and was transferred to another hospital, died five months later from a heart attack linked to the prison attack, the prosecutor said.

Defense attorney Warren Clark had questioned whether Cook died as a direct result of the injuries he suffered in the beating.

Cook suffered irreversible brain damage in the attack, Clark told jurors, but his condition stabilized within 10 days of his admission to Northwest Texas Hospital.

Clark said earlier Cook suffered from pneumonia, hardening of the arteries and other conditions that could have caused his death.