Suspect in prison killing had violent record

March 18, 2009 10:14 am

— McALESTER, Okla. (AP) — A convicted killer suspected of beating his cell mate who had testified against him to death has a prior history of prison violence.

Jessie James Dalton is accused of killing Paul Duran Junior on March 11 after Duran was put in the cell with Dalton at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary in McAlester.

Prison spokesman Jerry Massie says Dalton was transferred to McAlester from a state prison in Hominy after he was caught carrying a home-made knife.

Duran had testified against Dalton at Dalton's murder trial and because of that the two were not supposed to share a cell.

Dalton was convicted and sentenced to life without parole for killing Billy Wayne Ray during a robbery in Oklahoma City in 2002.

Massie says an investigation into how Duran was mistakenly placed in the cell with Dalton is still under way.

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Information from: The Oklahoman, http://www.newsok.com