New Mexico might not be able to handle Richard Worthington, but Nevada officials are confident they can.
"I don't think he'll be a problem," said Nevada Corrections director Ron Angelone, who was in Salt Lake City this weekend. "We have an excellent mental-health program."Angelone said he's aware of the headache Worthington's been to other prison officials but says he has the facilities and the resources and will take him anyway.
Worthington entered prison in March 1992 after pleading guilty to killing Alta View Hospital nurse Karla Roth and holding eight other people hostage for 18 hours. Worthington immediately became a problem at the Utah State Prison, attempting suicide twice and constantly harassing his former wife and local media.
New Mexico officials lost patience with Worthington after he fell and broke his foot attempting to escape by climbing a 14-foot fence. The former Sandy man had spent time in all four of New Mexico's prison facilities and has attempted suicide three times. He has also been attacked by other inmates.
Angelone says Worthington will be taken into custody in Jean, Nev., and will undergo psychiatric evaluations. Prison officials will evaluate his personality and needs and place him in one of three secure facilities in the state. Angelone said he won't say where Worthington is going until he's there, for security reasons.
Utah Corrections spokesman Jack Ford said Utah prison officials will drive to New Mexico to pick up Worthington and take him to Jean as soon as he is able to travel.
Angelone worked for Utah Corrections Director Lane McCotter in New Mexico, but Angelone says his friendship with McCotter had nothing to do with his decision to accept Worthington.
"I said I have the room, I'll be happy to take him," he said. "If I didn't have the room and I took him, I'd see that as a favor."
Angelone said he was contacted by McCotter after New Mexico prison officials told the head of Utah's prison system that they wouldn't keep Worthington. Worthington went to New Mexico as part of a trade in which Utah accepted one of New Mexico's "problem" inmates.
Ford said the New Mexico man hasn't been a problem at all and the Beehive State will keep him for the time being. Utah prisons house five Nevada inmates, and Nevada prisons house only two Utah inmates. All three states are part of an interstate trade compact that allows them to exchange problem inmates.