Jury Convicts Man Housed in ADX “Step Down Unit” of Second-Degree Murder

DENVER—Today a federal jury convicted Dominic Stewart, age 36, of the 2005 murder of Gregory Joiner while both were housed in the U.S. Bureau of Prison’s “step down unit” within the ADX in Florence, Colorado. The jury convicted Stewart of second-degree murder following a seven-day trial before U.S. District Court Judge Robert E. Blackburn. Stewart is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Blackburn on June 8, 2012. The jury deliberated for less than one day before returning the second-degree murder verdict.

The “step down unit” is a part of the ADX where prisoners are given an opportunity to show Bureau of Prison leadership that they have the ability to appropriately interact with other inmates.

On May 26, 2005, Stewart killed Joiner by punching and stomping on his head and neck. The punching and stomping caused severe brain damage. Joiner was taken to Parkview Medical Center, where he died five days later. Stewart now faces 30 years to life in federal prison for the murder. While Stewart was serving a life sentence for murder at the time he killed Joiner, Stewart was eligible for parole in 2013.

“It is important to prosecute violent crimes that occur in our prisons in order to preserve the safety and security of those institutions,” said U.S. Attorney John Walsh. “Today’s conviction should send a strong message to those inmates who are serving lengthy prison sentences that if they commit violent acts in prison they will be prosecuted vigorously.”

This case was investigated by the U.S. Bureau of Prisons and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Stewart was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Susan “Zeke” Knox and First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bob Troyer.