PHOENIX—Leonard Bacon, Jr. (D.O.B. 2/3/1968) has been sentenced to Life in the Department of Corrections for the 2018 attempted 1^st Degree Murder of a Corrections Officer. Bacon admitted to stabbing the officer with the intent to kill him.

“Corrections officers risk their safety every day to serve a very important role in our system to ensure public safety,” said County Attorney Allister Adel. “I am grateful that the officer survived his injuries and that this dangerous offender has been held accountable for this callous act.”

On October 6, 2018, three corrections officers at Lewis Prison went to the cell of inmate Leonard Bacon, Jr. to move him to a medical unit after he claimed he was having breathing issues. As one officer approached the open door of the cell, Bacon pulled a homemade knife and stabbed the officer in the chest. The officer fell to the floor and Bacon stabbed him in the abdomen as well. A second officer was able to gain control of Bacon who dropped the knife. The injured officer was later interviewed and stated he did not exchange any words with Bacon before Bacon stabbed him.

Bacon had committed three serious and violent prior offenses. Because the current conviction involved an offense committed while incarcerated in the Department of Corrections, the new sentence will run consecutively to his previous sentences. His priors include:

• Aggravated Assault, in 1990 for which he served 11 years in the Department of Corrections,
• Attempt to commit 2^nd degree murder, committed in 2001 and sentenced in 2002 to 35 years, and
• 1^st Degree Murder committed in 2001, receiving a Life sentence in 2002