Court rules against man in prison for ‘93 rampage

Wednesday, March 25, 1998 | 11:29 a.m.

Justices unanimously ruled Monday that the sentence given Jim Forrester was not cruel and unusual punishment.

Forrester, 61, is serving a seven-year term in the Nevada State Prison in Carson City for malicious destruction of private property, illegal discharge of a firearm and assault with a deadly weapon.

He drove his vehicle into the State Industrial Insurance System office in Las Vegas and fired shots at state workers. Forrester was shot in the head by a security guard.

Forrester went on the rampage after learning his workers' compensation benefits for a back injury had been halted.

In his appeal, Forrester said sentencing him to prison constituted cruel and unusual punishment, in violation of the U.S. Constitution.

He said he "is a prisoner in his own body" and "has been sentenced to serve the rest of his life in excruciating pain."

Forrester also said he cannot get proper medical treatment at the prison.

The court ruled Forrester's condition was unfortunate, "but it was not caused by the sentencing court."

The justices said that Forrester's imprisonment was delayed in consideration of his medical needs and that the correctional facility in Carson City can give him proper care.